
CopigtitN"- 



COFlfKIGHr DEPOSIT. 



THE 



New World Heroes 

OF 

DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST 

EXPLORATIONS OF THE NORSEMEN. COLUMBUS, VESl'UCIUS, 

BALBOA, THE CABOTS, MAGELLAN, CABRAL, CORTEZ, 

PIZARRO, DE SOTO, CARTIER, FROBISHER, 

DRAKE. DAVIS, HUDSON, BAFFIN, TASMAN, 

BEHRING, COOK AND MANY OTHER 

FAMOUS EXPLORERS. 

DARING PIONEER NAVIGATORS 

DESCRIBING THEIR BOLD VENTURES INTO UNKNOWN SEAS, ENCOUN- 
TERS WITH TERRIBLE STORMS AND SHIPWRECKS, DISCOVERIES 
OF STRANGE LANDS, CURIOUS PEOPLE AND RICH MINES; 
THEIR DESPERATE COMBATS WITH SAVAGES AND 

WILD BEASTS, STRUGGLES WITH MUTINIES, TERRIBLE HARDSHIPS, 

REMARKABLE ESCAPES; WANDERINGS IN SWAMPS AND FORESTS; 

UNVEILING THE GLORIES OF THE NEW WORLDS TO 

THE ASTONISHED GAZE OF ALL NATIONS, ETC. 

By D. M. KELSEY, The well known Historian 
Author of "Pioneer Heroes," "Stanley and the White Heroes in Africa," Etc. 

WITH AN INTRODUCTION 

By HON. MURAT HALSTEAD, the Famous Writer 



Embellished with 200 Historical Illustrations by the 
best English and American Artists. 



NATIONAL PUBLISHING COMPANY 

239 SO. AMERICAN STREET 
PHILADELPHIA, PA. 






LIBRARY of CONQRESSJ 


Vwo Copies 


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JAN 24 


1905 


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) ACT OF CONGRE66 

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CtlRlSTOPHEK COLUJIBUS. 



PREFACE. 



JX (he followiiic; pa»es it has been the aim of llie writer to give a liis- 
lor\ liC llic (lisei)very aiul earliest explorations of the New World, 
L\ means of a t'liain of biographies of the principal (liscoverer.5, 
reaehinu; iVom ihc lime of the Norsemen and Columbus to the laltei- part 
of the ei^hteenlh c'enliiry. .N'ot only does ihis chain extend lhrouii;h this 
lohLi; period of lime, Ijut il compasses the American continent, fi'om the 
coasl of (JreeidamI to Cape Horn, and thence to Ijehring Strait, and 
e\en reaches to Australia and the Archi})elagues of the South Pacific. 
All Ijelong to the era of New World discovery. 

In tliese biographies, as found in the original form, tliere is much that 
is of little interest to the general reader; and much of scientilic import- 
ance, that is ditiicuit to understand by those who liave not a close acquaint- 
ance with the mysteries of seamanship and astronomical observation. All 
these points have been condensed and written in such familiar language 
that no difficulty will be experienced, even by boys and girls who might, 
otherwise be repelled by the appearance of ditficulty. 

The original authorities have been consulted wherever practicable ; the 
collection of travels published by the Hakluyt Society being included in 
that term. A constant effort has been nuxdc to retain as much individual 
interest as possible; and reference to the authorities from which this work 
has been gathered would only encumber the book without adding to its 
value; for in many cases the materials for a single chapter have been 
collected from nuiuy and various sources, and woven laboriously into a 
single whole. 

In conclusion, the author has to thank many readers for their apprecia- 
tion of his previously published volumes, and ask that the present work 
may share their favor. 

D. M. Kf.lsev. 



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AMERICA BEFORE COLmiBUS. 
riaii of Work— Divisions of History— Egyptian Knowledge of America— Other Legends 
— Carthagenian Discoveries — llecords Found — A Grecian Tomb in America — •Similarity of 
Picture AVriting — Chinese Discoveries — Difficulties of Maritime Enterprises — Invention of 
the Compass — Irish Claims^The AVcL-li Discovery — \Velsli-Speal\ing Indians — The Norse- 
men — Erik the Eed — Discovery of Greenland— The JIaiiiland — Leif's Voyage — The Round 
Tower — Vinland — The First Fight wit li, the Ii\4i^B§^The First White Native American — 
TTiie Dighton Rock — The Skeleton in rAijnipE.,;, ,»),„;(;{ ^ , . . . . . ri/. 1-^26 

COLUMBUS' LIFE BEFORE THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA."' 
Date and Place of His Birth^-A Poor Mijn'S'SoA— Edncation^Geographical Knowledge 
of the Time— Ideas of India— Marco P0I0--A HiJendid Banquet— The Sroflers Rebuked — 
"Lord Millions"'— The Story of his Travels — The Grand Khan — Cipango— Imprisoned Qt 
Gepoa — Influence on Youtlis of Genoa^— Columbus Sees Service — Deceiving a Mutinous Cr^w 
—Prince Henry of Portugal— Columbus at Lisbon— Marriage — An Honored Profession— 
Friends— Evidence of a World Beyond tli« Waters— Growth of his Great Idea — Toscanelli 
Consulted — Religious Character of Ctolumbus — Application to Genoa — To Venice^ Vd^ge 
to Iceland — Application to Portugal — A Scurvy Trick — Condition of European Countries— •&. 
Friend at Last — Disappointment— A Sketch of Spanish History — The War Against the ]\ft)6i4 
— Effect upon the Project of Columbus — Friends at Court^Received by King Ferdinand^ 
The Great Council of Salamanca — The Folly of the Wise — The Arguments of Columbus^ 
Delayed Decision — A Wanderi^ig Court— Invitation to Portugal— Letter from England— Re- 
ligious Ardor Strengthened-r^The Council's Decision — Columbus Sets Out for France— At 
the Convent Gate— Friends atPalos— Appeal to the Queen— Demands of Columbus Rejectfed 
—A Courageous Courtier— Columbus Recalled — Isabella's Independence— Articles of Agtefe- 
WJ^^- • ■ •- r.r .,.f •,,;!..::,.• • ■ • . •' ■. . = . . . .' '40 

v^' THE.Fffisr'VoyA,G^''iot /dOLtJiiB;^^^^ 

^'ilew Difficulties — Reluctant Seamen— The Three Vessels- A Town of Mourning— Sets 
Sailfrom Palos— Alarms— The Double Reckoning— Variation of the Compass— The Grassy Sea 
—Renewed Doubts— Indications of Land — Mutiny of the Crew— Hope Renewed — Confidence 
in Columbus— Night-Watch of the Admiral— Light througU the Darkness— "LAND!"— 
The Landing of the Discoverer — Taking Possession — The NativeST— Cruisiivg — Self-Deception 
—Exploration of Cuba— Two Wonderful Tlants- Desertion of t^e, jPw(;(frr^"i>U Discovered- 
Visits froril'Native Chiefs— Guacanagari— The Santa Maria Wrecked— Assisted by Nativer— 
Tribute of Columbus to their Character-Tlie Indians' First Aquaintam-c \\'.:]i I'irc-Arms 



VI CONTKXTS. 

iMivialili' Indians — Colony Projeetpd — Kttbrls to Convert tlio Inili:ins — RnildingtliP Fortrcs:* 

— InslnicCions to Colonists — 1 )f|)!irtiire of Cohinibiis — ItcjoiiiiMl by the I'inla — Kxidanations — 
AriiiiMl Xativcs — Hostilities — Dilliciillii's of lU'turn VoyjiK"' — Storms — I'ioty of tlie tirw — 
Causes of the Admiral's Distress — Mis J'reeautions — Land Once More — Enmity of Port niruese • 
— Liberated Prisoners — r)ei)artiire — Storms Again — Oft" the Coast of Portugal — Heeeption in 
Portugal — 'I'lie King's Advisers — lleJoicMiig at Pales — Arrival of the J'iiitx — Pinzon's Treach- 
ery — His Death — lleeeption of Cohnnbiisat Court — T'niiaralleled Honors — Hoyal 'I'hanksgiv- 
ing — .Fealoiisy of Courtiers — ( olunibus and the Kgg — The Papal l!ull — Preparations for a Sec- 
ond \'oyage — \arious Arrangements — 'I'he tlolden Prime of Columbus. . . . T!) 

TIIK SKCOM) VOYAGE OF COLl'MBrS. 

The tireat Fleet — Precautions of Columbus- — The Ontwar<l Voyage — Traces of CIvili/ution 
— Fvideiices of ( 'annil)alism — Hostilities — Doubts Conlirmcd — At Anchorage — The Fate oi 
the (lanison— Story of the Xatives— Attacked by Caribs— A X<'\v Colony— The IJnilding of 
Isabella — Sickness — Kxplorutlon of the [sland— Ojeda's Kxpeditlon — Uetnrii of \'essels— 
Slave-Trading l'ni|io.-cd by Columbus — His Reasons— lUssatisfaclion — A Conspiracy DIseov 
ered — Action of i idiiMjIius — ( olunibus Explores the Island — Fort St. Thomas — Xecessifies of 
the Colony— "CcniliMnen " at Work — .\ Voyage of Discovery — Welcome Reports — Ciiha • 
N'oted a Part of th<^ Mainland — Dangerous Illness of Colund)US — Return to Isabella — .\dven- 
tures of Harlliolomew Columbus — Margarite's Rebellion — Enemies — Siege of St. Thomas — 
Ojeda's Daring Enterprise — Spanish Cunning vs. Indian Cunning — Steel Bracelets — Spanish 
< iinningWjns — Condition of Colony — \n Indian War — Victory — The Conqueror's Conditions 

— A Dcspirati' Etlort — Misrepresentations of Margarite — Isabella's Views on Slavery — .\gUH- 
clo's .Arrival — \Varincss of < dluuibus — Discovery of Gold-Mines — Romantic Story — Return to 
Spain liVs 

THE LAST VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS. 

Arrival at Cadiz — Reception at Court — "Gold in Bars'' — A Miserable Maker of .lokes — A 
Thoughtful Queen— Third Voyage of Columbus — Departure from Spain — La Trinidatl — The 
Continent Discovered — The Land of Pearls — The Earthly Paradise — Building of San Do- 
mingo — The Adelantado's Administration — Conspiracy of Indians — Roldan's liebellion — 
Dangers of the Government — Indian Insurrection — Guarionex Captured — Roldan's Luck — 
Terms Made with tlie Ilebels— Kncmies of Columbus in Sjiain — His Sons Shamed — Ollicial 
Action — Uobadilla in llispaniola — llis Course — Uncertainty of Columbus— Return to San 
Domingo — Columlius in Cliains — Itis Brothers Arrested — 'I'he " Reward of Services" — Em- 
barkation of Columbus — .\rrival in Spain — Bobadilla's Action Disavowed — Ferdinand's Jeal- 
ousy and Distrust — Ovando .Xjipointed Governor — Wrongs of the Indians — A Great Fleet — 
Colundui.s Plans a Crusade — Ferdinand's Substitute — Fourth Voyage of Columbus — Sails 
from Spain — Ovando Refuses Shelter — His Ships — The Predicted Storm — Kesults — Cruising — 
Adventures on Land — A Daring Messenger — Reaches Jamaica — Courage of Mendez — Anxiety 
of the Castaways — Mutiny of Porras — Columbus Predicts an Eclipse — Terror of the Xatives 
— .Vn Insolent Messenger — The JIutiny Ponded — Assistance Arrives — Columbus Reaches 
.Spain — Death of Isabella — Illness of Columbus — Assistance of Vespucius — Ferdinand's Delay 
— .A. Compromise Proposed — Rejection — ,'V Last Gleam of Hope — Death of ('olumhu.s — His 
Buri.-il— Ceremonies attending the Removal to Havana 1">''' 

AMERK'US VESPUCIUS. 
Is '"America" an Indian Word? — A City of Merchants — The Vespucci Family — Education 
— .V Family Misfortune — Americus in Spain — Connection with Colmubus — First Voyage of 
Aespucius — South America Discovered — An American Venice — Attacked by Xatives — An 



CONTENTS. VI 1 

Inlariri Visit— Friendly Natives— Repairing the Vessels— A Mission of Vengeiincr— A Desper- 
ate Conflict— Return to Spuin—Uisputes about the Voyages of Vespucius— Marriage— \'isit 
to Court— Ojeda's Expedition— Second Voyage of Vespucius— Off the Coast of South America 
—Gentle Cannibals— Landing of tlie Spaniards Disputed— A Village of Giants— A Filthy 
Habit- Return to Spain-A Flattering Offer-His Third Voyage— A Stormy Passage-Land 
at Last— An Eartldy Paradise— An Invitation Accepted— Murdered by Cannibals— Revenge 
Forbidden— Vespucius becomes Commander— Off the Coast of Africa— Return to Portngal- 
The Fourth Voyage of Vespucius— Misfortunes— An Anxious Condition— South America 
Again— A Colony Planted— Return to I-isbon— To Spain— Preparations for New Expedition- 
Causes of Delay— Xew Taslvs Proposed— Appointed Chief Pilot of Spain— Visits Florence— 
HisDeath— His Family— Foundations ofhis Fame- Accusations— Original Application of tlie 

Name America 

SEBASTIAN C'AKOT, THE DISCOVERER UE NORTH AMERICA. 
John Cabot— Settle.s in England— His Sons— Residence in Venice— Return to England— 
The Cabot Boys' Interest in Columbus— Henry VII.— .John Cabot Goes to Court— A Patent 
Granted— Expedition Sails from England— Touclies at Iceland— Nova Scotia Discovered— 
The Sailors Insist on Returning— A Second Venture— Death of .Tohn Cabot— A Colony Pro- 
jjosed- Mutinous Sailors— Exploration— A King's Injustice— In Spain— Henry VIII.— Sebas- 
tian Cabot Summoned to Englaiul— To Spain Again— Grand Pilot— A Disappointment— Return 
to England— Voyage to America— Rebellious Followers— Summoned to Spain Again— Import- 
ance of the Moluccas— An Expedition Thither— Sealed Orders—Fault-Finding— Swift Retri- 
bution— La Plata— A Fort Built— Ascending the River— A Bloody Battle— Tracked Across 
the Ocean— A Polite Refusal— Pursued up tlie River— Cabot Defends Himself— Explorations- 
Innocent and Guilty Confused— The Fort Stormed— Return to Spain— Cabot's Reputation- 
Return to England— Grand Pilot of England— Variation of the Needle Explained by Cabot- 
Proposed Expedition to' the Northcast^The Stilyard— Sir Hugh Willoughby— Chancellor's 
Success— Willoughby's Death— Cabot's Commercial Importance— Accession and Marriage of 
Queen Mary— Cabot Resigns his Pension— A Lively Old Man— Pension Renewed— ■\Vortli- 
thington's Unfaithfulness — Death of Cabot ■--' 

BALBOA, THE DISCOVERER OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 

Early Life— Voyage in a Cast;- Governor of Darien— "AVhere is your Comrade?"— Ex- 
ploring Expeditions— Golden Gifts— The Savage ChiefsPromise- Difficulties of the Governor 
—Aid from Hispaniola— " To the Land of Gold!"— A Toilsome March— Tlie First Sight of 
the Pacilic— A Splendid Vaunt— Return to Darien— Reception of News at Court— Balboa 
Superscdcd—'I'woPartics Formed— Pestilence and Famine— Balboa Appointed Adelantado 
of the SoutliSea Countries— Avila's Enmity— A Peacemaker— Avihi's Treachery— Balboa's 
Trial— Condemned— Executed— Removal of Colony. '-''■^ 

:MA(;ELLAX, the discoverer Or THE SOUTH rvcH'-ic. 

A Royal Page— Portuguese Mariners— Aibuinicnjue the Great— Royal Ingratitude— Mag- 
ellan goes to Spain— Westward to India-Reaches South America— Tbe Giant Patagonians— 
Travelers' Tales— Conspiracy against JIageUan— Punishment of the Plotters- The Straits of 
Mao-ellan— Entering the Pacific— Terrible Privations— The I'nfortiinate Islands— The Islands 
of Thieves— Retaliation— Friglitened into Friendliness- Trading for Gold— ^[issionary AVork 
—In Portuguese Waters— Conversion of Islanders— Persecuting tlie Heatlicn— The SimniardR 
Demand Tribute— The Natives Resist— Poisoned Arrows— Magellan Jlorlnlly Wonnded-A 
Determined Enemy— Flight of the Spaniards— At IJorneo- Attacked— Rrl iiin to Pliilippine 
Islands— To the Moluccas— Doubling theCape— Starvaliun— The First CiiviinnKnigation Ac- 
complished. . • .... -' - 



:. ■■ CABIIAL,.THP: DISCOVElliai ok BIi.\Zll,„^^,-,_,,, - ,T 

■ Affidentnl DiscoveTlcs — Viis(<o da Gatna— Portuguese Adventurers in Inftia — A Second 
Expeiliiioh — C'ahral Corniiiandor— 'I'o the Southwest— 'I'lio (;oast of lira/.il — Cabral Lands — 
Report Sent to Portujral— Sets Sail— A Fatal Storm— Doubling the Capo of Good Hope — 
MadBgi-.scar — Seeking ProBtef John — t'alicut Ucao.hed — l-Mghtingfor tbo Kajali — A Corner in 
Spicesf— The Kajnli's Trap— Cabral Falls into It— Atlaeked by the Arabs— A Ma?Siicre— A 
1 lei-tf Rescnos a Child — 'Cabrars Vengeanoo — The Homeward Voyajre — Reception at Court — 
Oljscurify. ■ ." .'•' ..■.■'.'. 800 

nERN^v:sn)() CORTKS, THE ('OX(irKrvER OF >iExrco. 

Settlements in the New World — ConcptestofCuba — Kxplorations of Continent — Youth and 
Tfiducation of Cortes— A Fortunate Fall— Sails for America — Plots against the Governor— K 
Seeks Sanctuary — Swinjming for Life — Reconciliation — Captain-General of Armada for Con- 
quest of Mexico — Vclesipicz Changes liis Mind — "Time Presses;" — Departure of Cortes — 
Recruiting inCiiba — His Forceand Arms — Embarkation for Yucatan — Preaching toNatives — 
The Long-Sought Captives — The Landing Disputed — The Battle of Lady-Day— Landing at 
Vera Cruz — In Montezuma's Roiilms — Tlie Emperor's Gifts — Progress Forbidden — Planting a 
Colony— Disse'nslons of Natives — Totonacs Rebel against Montezuma — Cortes Sends a Report 
to Spain— Destruction of the Ships — "To Mexico!" — The Tlascalans Resist their Passage — A 
Xight Attack — Cruelty to Messengers — Envoys from Montezuma — Cortes Reaches Cholula— 
Treachery of Choliilans — Its Piinishracnt — Ascent of Popocatapetl — Mont ezuma's Despair- 
Cortes Enters tlie Capital^Visits Exchanged — Dangerous Position of Cortes — His Desperate 
Purpose — Pretext for Seizing Montezuma — The Purpose Accomplished — The Imperial Prisoner 
— Montezuma in Irons — ShipRuildingon the Lake — Suprema(^y of Spain Acknowledged by the 
Aztecs — •'Honeyed Words"— Cortes Demands the Use of the Temples — Montezuma's Warn- 
ing — Cortes' Threat — ExpedifionofA'elasqnez — Winning over Enemies — Jlarch to tlie Coasts 
Submission of Vcli*flquez' Army to'Cortes — Return to Mexi.'o — Alvarado's Mismanagement- 
SpanishX'amp Assaulted — Montezuma Commands Peace — Taunted and AVounded — Attacking 
the Temple^-'lnhnnierahle Enemies — Preparing for Retreat — Death of Montezuma — The Re-' 
treat Begun— "The Melancholy Night" — Personal Feats of the Spaniards — Terrible LossoS-'J 
Hardshipsof the JMarch — Battle of Otumba — "There is our Mark!" — "Tlie True Miracle is 
the Conduct of Cortes" — At'J'lascala — Cortes Wounded — Reinforcements — Ship-Building — On 
the March Again — Desperate Resistance of Iztaplapan — Minor Cities Reduced — Cortes Cap- 
tiii'fed^ — lleroic Rescue — Conspiracy of Spaniards against Cortes — Siege of Jlexico — Spanish' 
Prisoners Sacriticed— Horrors of the Siege — Destruction of the City — The Siege Ended— Ex- 
plorations — Court Intrigues — Cortes Triumphant — The Conciueror's Authority Conlirined— 
I'^xpcdilion to Honduras — Estrada's Insults — Cortes Goes to Spain — Reception at Court— Re- 
wards — Return to New Spain — Exploring the Western Coast — To Spain Again — "Deserting 
too Greatly"— Last Illness and Death— His Burial. . '. ' . . . ". . '-^'SIB' 

FRAXCISCO PIZARRO, THE DISCOVEREB OF PERU. '' 

2A Foundling — Lack of Education — To America — San Sebastian — Grim Determination — 
D^rien — First Expedition to Peru — Hunger — Attacked by Natives — Pizarro's Desperate Sit- 
uiUion — Return to Panama — Second Expedition toPeru — Exjiloring Party — Reinforcements — 
Dispute between Pizarro and Almagro— The Drover and the Butcher— Pizarro's Address to 
his J*Ien— On tlic Island of Gorgona— Wonderful Stories— Return to Panama— The Third Ex- 
pedition Planned— Pizarro (iocs to Spain— Arrested for Debt— Released— The Great Capitu- 
lation— Deceived Oflieials— Discontent of Almagro — Embarkation at Panama — The Land of 
Emeralds — Outrage upon (lie Natives— Dissensions among Peruvians- Disaster and Disap- 
IK)intment— Reconnoitcring and Exploring— San Miguel Founded— Into the Heart of Peru— 



CONTKNTS. ix 

Pizarro sends Malcontents Back — Envoy from the Inca — Crossing the Andes — An Embassy to 
the Inca — Seizure of Atahualpa Planned — The Inca Enters Caxamalca — A Call to the Uncon- 
verted — Atahualpa's Resentment — Slaughter of the Peruvians — Pizarro Defends Atahualpa — 
The Inca a Prisoner — He Offers Ransom — Immensity of the Treasure Promised — Atuhualpa's 
Rival Murdered — Silver Horse-Shoes — Reinforcements — Atahualpa Brought to Trial — His Ex- 
ecution — De Soto's Rebuke — Story of Pizarro's Resentment — To Cuzco — Challcuchinia's Re- 
bellion and Punishment — Manco's Submission — Spoil of Cuzco — Pizarro Assumes Title of 
Governor — He Builds Lima — A Messenger to Spain — New Recruits — Difficulties with Alraa- 
gro — Almagro Leaves for Chili — Manco Escapes — Battles with the Peruvians — Cuzco Be- 
sieged — Almagro's Disasters — Returns from Chill and Takes Cuzco — Agreement between 
Pizarro and Almagro — Capture, Trial, and Condemnation of Almagro — His Execution — A 
Mission to Spain — Investigation Ordered — Conspiracy of the Men of Chili — The Plot Betrayed 
—Pizarro Attacked — "Down with the Tyrant !" — Death of Pizarro — Burial. . . 375 

FERDINAND DE SOTO, THE DISCOVERER OF THE MISSISSIPPI 

RIVER. 

Birth and Descent — Youth and Education — The Young Man's Love — A Stern Parent — A 
Treacherous P'oe — Dangerous Honors — De A vila Recalled — De Soto in Peru — Return to Spain — 
JIarriage — His Great Expedition — Ettbrts to Colonize North America — Ponce de Leon — 
Narvaez — An Unfriendly Reception — Difficulties of the Journey — A Disgusted Lieutenant — 
The Indian Princess — Tuscaloosa — The Fight at Mobile — Discovery of the Mississippi — Ad- 
vancing Westward — The Retreat — De Soto's Death — Burial in the Mississippi — Return of the 
Expedition — A Broken Heart 410 

JACQUES CARTIER, THE DISCOVERER OF CANADA. 

St. Malo — Youth of Cartier — Verazzano's Voyage — The Fislieries — Cartier's First Ameri- 
can Voyage — Sighting Newfoundland — The Mainland — Taking Possession — Protest of Natives 
— Donacoiia's Friendship — His Sons Embark for France — Cartier Ascends the St. Lawrence 
— Returns Home — The Second Voyage — At the Mouth of the St. Lawrence — An Indian 
Drama — Visits Hochelaga — Curing Diseases — Returns to Ships — Fort Built — Tobacco and 
Scalps — Scurvy — Working and Praying — An Indian Remedy — Cartier Takes Possession of 
the Country Again — Donacona and his Sons Embark forP>ance — Arrival at St. Malo — A Cool 
Reception — Cartier's Third American Voyage — A Colony Attempted — Failure — Cartier Re- 
turns to France — Roberval's Effort — After Years 440 

JUAN FERNANDEZ, THE DISCOVERER OF ROBINSON CRUSOE'S 

ISLAND. 

Settlement of Chili — Difficulty of Southward Voyage — Expedient of Fernandez — Accused 
before the Inquisition — Discovers the Island of Juan Fernandez — Settles on Islands — Returns 
to Mainland — Other Discoveries — Discovery of Southern T^and — A Mystery and some Expla- 
nations — Superstitions Regarding the Pacific — Alexander Selkirk — Robinson Crusoe. 454 

THE THREE VOYAGES OF SIR MARTIN FROBISHER. 

Early Life — I'he Northwest Passage — Frobisher's Enterprise — The Expedition Sails Re- 

''ported Lost — Reaches the American Coast — The Boat Lost — Living Proof— Return to Eng- 
land — The Black Stone — Gold — -The Second Voyage — The Faroe Islands — America — Conflict 
with Natives — Fire and Tempest — Mining — Captives — A Fort Built — A War Dance — Return 
to England — The Third Expedition — Misfortunes to the Ships — Surrounded by Ice — His Des- 
perate Resolution — Stone House Built — Ruins Found in 1^01 — Results of Voyage— FrobJs> 
1 



X CONTKN'IS. 

cr's Doiiicslic Kcliitiiiiis— Knifihlcd l)y Drake— T.cttcr from i^iiitii Kli/.ahclh— Krlicf nf I;rr-st 
— KrobisluM- Woiindpd — Uctiirri to Kngland — Death Iii- 

siR f''kanc;is dkakk, the p:lizabktiian navhiatoh. 

A Clergyman's Son — His Youth — Early Adventures — Sails under JIawkins — Attacked by 
the Si)aniar(ls — Heturn to Kiijrland — Various Knter]>rises — Voyage to America — Assault of 
Xombrc de Dios — Drake Wounded — Retreat to Ships — Overland to Panama — Drake's Vow — 
Partial Failure — Return to Vessels — Treasure Secured — Tlie Raft — Rei)risals — Return to Eng- 
land — A New Enterprise — Sails for the South Sea — Along the (Oasl of Africa — Off 15ra- 
zil — ThievingXatives — Skiruiisli — Plot Against Drake — Doughty Kxcculcd — On the Pacilic — 
Storms — Mistaken for Spaniards — Prizes — Homeward Jtound— New Alliion — Coast of North 
America — I.iniitof Exploration— Camping on Land — Intercourse with the Natives — Interest- 
ing Ceremonies — Takes Possession of Country — Across the Pacific — The T.adrones — Ternale 
— Doubling tlie Cape — Arrival in England — A Day Lost — Knighted by the (Jueen — A New 
Commission — To the West Indies and Virginia — Return to England — Tlie Spanish Armada — 
Surrendering to the Fortune of Drake — To Succor Portugal — Drake's Last Ex|)edition — The 
Spanish Main — Attacked by the Spaniards — War on the Coast Towns — Disappointments — 
Illness and Death of Drake -ISO 

JOHN I)A\ IS, Till-: SKCOM) (iRKAT A IK TIC NAVKiATOK. 

Character of Davis — Sails from England — Reaches Greenland — Among the Icebergs — The 
Land of Desolation — "Music hath Charms'" — Exchange of Presents — Exploring Davis Strait — 
Ks(|uiuiau Dogs — Return to England — Second Voyage — Friendly Intercourse with Green- 
landers — A Misunderstanding — Thieving — Hostilities — Coasting to Labrador — Return to En- 
gland — II is Third \'oyage — Kishingnnd Exploring — Northern Limit of Exjiloration — Terrible 
Condition of Davis — Arrival in England — Lack of Interest in Explorations — Reasons — Cav- 
endish's Two Voyages — Davis Sails with Him — Return — Other Voyages — His Death. ijlu 

FOUR YKARS I\ THE LIFE OF HENRY IITDSON. 
Voyage of Verazzano — Commissioned by Francis I. of France — The Coast of America — 
Contrast Between French and Indian Actions — Return to France— Hudson's First A'oyage— 
The Coast of Greenland — Return to England — Second Voyage — No Practicable Northeast 
Passage — Return — In the Service of Holland — Third Voyage — To tlie Northeast — Reasons 
for Changing Course — To America — Coast of Canada — Exploring the Coast of the United 
States — New York Bay — The Story from an Indian Standpoint — Meaning of the Name Man- 
hattan — New Use for Implements — An Old Trick — Ascending the IJiver — Mutinous Temper 
of Crew — Return — English Government Interferes — Weymouth's Voyage — Hudson's Last 
A'oyage — A Peculiar History — Hudson Strait — Hudson Bay — Trial of Juet for Mutiny — 
Frozen In — Quarrels Among the Crew — Their Food — An Exploring Expedition — Famine — 
Tlie Plots Conic to a Head — Persuading Prickett — The Plot — Hudson and his Comjianions 
Atiandoned to tlicir Fate — Hostile Natives— Return of the Conspirators to England — Impris- 
onment. . . .ril 

liAFFlN' A:m) arctic EXPLORATIONS. 
Tlie Parish Register Entries — Deductions — Beginning at the Foot of the Ladder — Danish 
Attempts to Explore Northern Waters — Ratlin's First Recorded Voyage — Oft' Greenland — Es- 
(|uiuiaiix Visitors — Hall Mortally Wounded — A Disajipointment — Return — Two Voyages to 
the Northeast — Exjiloring Spitzbergen — •'(liblions his Hole "—Second Voyage to America — 
OirGreenland Again — Measuring Icebergs — Exploring the Islands — Hudson Strait — R-turii 



CONTENTS. Xl 

to Englanil— Baffin's Opinion about the Northwest Passage — Third Voyage to America— Up 
Davis' Strait — In Baffin's Bay — Limit of Exploration — The Sick Cured — Return to England — 
Maps of Baffin's Bay — Ross' Testimony to Baffin's Merits — Baffin's New Scheme — Employed 
by East India Company — Arrival at Surat. — Exploration of the Red Sea — A Favored Em- 
ploye — Becomes Master of a Ship — Fight with Dutch and Portuguese in Persian Waters — A 
Drawn Battle — A Second Conflict — Return to Surat — To the Coast of Arabia^ Alliance with 
the Shah — Siege of Ormuz — Baffin Levels the Guns — Killed. ..... 548 

TASMAN, THE GREAT DUTCH XA^'IGATOR. 

The Dutch East India Company — Its Monopoly of the Spice Trade — Settlements in the 
East Indies — Voyages of Discovery — Torres and Quiros — Tasman's First Voyage — Instruc- 
tions — Discovery of Tasmania — Taking Possession for Holland — New Zealand — Fight with 
the Nati%'es — Massacre Bay — Friendly Islands — Samoa — New Guinea — A Sudden Sl»irmisli — 
Making Knives for Trading — Return to Batavia — Second Voy.age — Results of Explora- 
tions. r)(>6 

VITUS BEHRING, THE RUSSIAN NAVIGATOR. 

Peter the Great and Russian Civilization — Establishing a Navy — Behring Enters the Rus- 
sian Service — Exploration of Siberia — Siberian Knowledge of America— P^xpeditions East- 
ward — First Expedition under Behring — Difficulties — Exploration of Asiatic Coast — Passes 
through Behring Strait — Return to St. Petersburg — New Plans Proposed — A Second Expe- 
dition — Behring's Family — Personnel of the Expedition — Chirikof — Spanberg — Other Subor- 
dinates — Instructions — Preparations — Leaving St. Petersburg — Crossing Europe and Asia — 
Ship-Building — Delays, Difficulties, and Investigations — Sets Sail at Last — Doubts as to 
Course — Separation of Vessels — Chirikof reaches America — Returns to Siberia — Behring Dis- 
covers Mount St. Elias — A Discoverer without Enthusiasm — A Sudden Departure — Scurvy- 
Terrible Condition — -Land Sighted — A Desert Island — Landing the Sick — The Long and 
Cruel Winter — Behring's Heroic Patience — His Death — Plans of Survivors — A Singular Ques- 
tion — Building a Vessel — Return to Kamchatka. ... ... 574 

CAPTAIN JAMES COOK, THE EXPLORER OF THE SOUTH SEA. 

Birth and Early Life — Contending with Difficulties — A Runaway Apprentice — Rises in the 
World — Enlists in the Navy — Distinguishes himself as a JIaritime Surveyor — Appointed Ma- 
rine Surveyor of Labrador and Newfoundland — Transit of Venus in ITilli — Cook's Expedi- 
tion — Previous Expeditions to the South Pacific — Byron — " Foul-AVeather .Tack " — Walli.s — 
Tahiti — Carteret — Bougainville — Chief Value of this Voyage — Cook Sets Sail — Doubling 
Cape Horn^Arrival at Tahiti — Observing the Transit — The Society Islands — Taking Pos- 
session — New Zealand — LTnfriendly Natives — Exploring Coast — Tasmania — Australia — A Se- 
rious Disaster — An Anxious Night and Day — Exhausting Labor — Land Reached — Camping 
on Shore — Summing up of Difficulties — Following Coast of Australia — Batavia — Doubling 
the Cape — Home Again — Another Expedition Planned — To Discover the Southern Conti- 
nent — Bouvet's Discovery — Cook's Instructions — Precautions against Sickness — In Antarctic 
Waters — Separation of Vessels — To New Guinea — Re-union of Ships, — Friendly Natives^ 
Proposed Route — Reach Tahiti — Trading — Presents — Hu — Rough Treatment of Whites 
— Cook's Islands — The Friendly Islands — Final Separation of Vessels — To the Far South 
Again— Easter Island— Tahiti— Tlie Friendly Islands — Whitsunday Island— An Offended 
Native — The New Hebrides — New Caledonia Explored — A Fortunate Discovery — Return 
Eastward — Staten Island Eeconnoitered — Hunting — Reaches Cape of Good Hope— Re- 
port or Furneaux — A New Zealand Massacre — Return to England — A Pleasant Post- 
Honors — A New Expedition Planned — Cook Volunteers — Instructions — In Australasia-^ 



Sandwich Islands Discovered — Heachcs American ('oust — Coasting Xorthward — To tbe Sand- 
wich Islands again — Strange Ceremonies — Explanation — A Change — ^A Tumult — A Serious 
Dispute — A Skirmish — Cook Seeks a Hostage— A Conllict — Cook Killed— Remains of Cook 
Recovered and Hurled — Ships Northward — Pass IJehring Strait — Return by Cape of Good 
Hope to England — \ows of Cook's Dcalli - llow Keceived — Honors to his Memory — Hit. 
Summarv of his Ow n Life 588 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



English and Spanish Contending for Supr('nia<'y 

< liristopher Cohimbus. 

Columbus Before Isabella and the Council. 

A Phoenician Vessel 

A Fleet of Kotnan Galleys in the Mediterranean. 
Discovery of Greenland by Norse Ships. . 
Kound Tower at Newport, Khode Island. 

Lief and His Men Find Tyrker 

The Skeleton in Armor. ..... 

Birthplace of Columbus 

Sea Bishop and Mermaids. .... 

The Phantoms of Fear 

Marco Polo at the Court of Kublai Khan. 
Marco Polo's Single Galley Attacked by Seventy 

The Vears of Preparation 

Diaz on His Way to the Cape 

Isabella in Armor 

I olumbus in the Royal Presence. 

Columbus Before the Council 

Columbus and His Son at the Mona.stery Gate. 
Departure of Columbus from Palos, Spain. 

" Land! I^and !" 

The Mutiny 

Columbus U'atehing for Land 

Columbus Approaching San Salvador. 
Landing of Columbus at San Salvador. 

The Fight with the Iguana 

The Grateful Cacique. ..... 

The Colund)us Bronze Doors in the Capitol at \V 

The Return of Columbus 

Columbus' ^Icn Throwing Over the Casks. 

A Pilgrimage of Grace 

Columbus Before the Sovereigns of Portugal. . 

The Triumphal Progress 

Kcception of Columbus by Ferdinaiul and Isabell 

Columbus and the Egg 

Columbus lielating His Discoveries to His Friend 

P'.videnees of Cannibalism 

Sailing Among the Islands. .... 

Bartholomew Columbus 

Spaniards Setting Dogs on Indians. . 
An Aboriginal Race Working in Mines. 
Columbus Protecting the Indian Prisoners. 
" Gold in Bars " 



in the New Worl 




P.4GE. 

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111 

114 

117 

Full paare li'i) 

Full I'age IL'J 

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12(1 

i:^o 

Full Page 137 

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150 

Full Page 15;! 

Full Page 15(5 

158 



xni 



ii.i.i sri: Ai'iDNS. 



The Landing of Columbus at Trinidad. 

The Tidal Wave 

Kiiins of the House of Coluinlius at San Doinin 
Uiveting the Fctti-ra u|)on Columbus. 
Columbu.s Ketuniinj; to Spain in Chains. . 

Hooted by tlie Mob 

Ovando's Fleet Sliattored in a Storm. 
Columbus' Caravels Aground. 

Columbus and the Kclipse 

Death of Columbus 

Statue of ( 'olumbus on the I'ortioo of the ( 'apitol at 

Americus Ve.spucius 

Vespucius KxploriiiK the New ('ouiilr%. . 

Natives of the Amazon 

On tlie Orinoco 

l/isbon in tlie Sixteenth fiMilui-v. 

Sliipwrecked. 

.lohn Cabot 

Sebastian Cabot. 

Cabot at Labrador 

Cabot's Ueturn to England. 

Voyaging up the Kiver 

tireat Ship of Henry the Eighth. 
Sebastian Cabot and the CosmograplH'is. 
Wintering in the Arctic Kegion. 
• Iiaiucllor before the Czar. 

Ikilboa. . . • 

'I'lic .Vtlouipted Escape 

Balboa Discovers tlie Pacific Ocean. . 

I'Vnlinaiid .Magellan , 

.\ll)ui|U(i(|ue Sends Tribute to the Shah of Per 

Tlir Savages' First Look Into a .Mirror. 

Magellan Punishes Mutiny. 

.Magellan's Vessels in the Straits. 

Magellan at the Ladrone Islands. 

Talooed South Sea Islander. 

Heroic Death of Magellan. 

The Visit of the King of Horneo. 

Vasco de Gaiiia . 

( 'abral Before the Zamorin. 
Cabral Takes Po.ssession of Brazil. 
The Fleet Wrecked in a Storm. . 

Hernando Cortes. 

Mexican Indians Bringing Gifts to Cortes. 
< ortes Marching on the City of JIe.\ii-o. 
Ruins of Aztec Civilization. 

The Massacre at Cholula 

Montezuma. ...... 

Mexican Idol and Ruins 

Aztec ( hief 

The Spaniards Defending 'Vhemselves in the ( 
Montezuma Wounded by His Own People. 
Desperate Battle on the Causeway. . 
Cortes Fighting at Otuiuba. 
'I'lie Torturing of Gualcmozin and His Minister 

Francisco I'izarro. 

I'izarro Exhorts His Men to Follow Him to the 
Pizarro Before the Emjieror Charles V. 
Pizarro and His .Men in IVru. 
.\tahualpa Taken Prisoner liy Pizarro. 
Tlie Kxccutidii of the Inca. 



PACK. 

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Conijuest. 



25() 
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Page 257 
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Page 26U 
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•J!M 
■J'.C 
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age 308 
314 
323 
age 330 
336 
338 
age 340 
347 
341) 
'iige 3.>l 
356 
35il 
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36y 
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age 382 
:isi; 
31H 
3!IIt 
•age 404 



II-MSTKATIOXS. 



Pizarro aiul Almagro Swearing Peace. 
Battle with the Peruvians. 
The Killing of Pizarro. 

Kertiinand de Soto 

Ue Soto's A'oyage to Florida. 

Tlie Fight at "Mobile 

De Soto's Encampment in the Forest. 

De Soto Discovers the Great Mississippi Itiver 

Indian Fleet Meeting De Soto. . 

Burial of Do Soto. 

Departure of the Spaniards, 
('artier Enters the St. Lawrence Iliver. 
Donaeona's Sons. .... 

Plan of Hochelaga Fort. 
(Airtier's Men Preparing to Winter at Orleans Island 
('artier at the St. Charles Kiver, near (jiirbec. 
-Island of Juan Fernandez. . 
Natives of Easter Island. 
Selkirlv Follows the Goats too Far. 

Sir Martin Frobisher 

Queen Elizabeth of England. 
Frobisher Departs on His Third Voyage 

Among the Icebergs 

Sir Walter Raleigh 

Francis Drake as a Ferry Boy. . 
Naval Battle between the English and Spanish 
Drake Capturing a Spanish Galleon. . 
Drake's First View of the Pacific Ocean. 

Taking a Prize . 

An Abundance of Wild Fowl. 

Draki^ Visits the Islands of the South Sea. 

Indian Stalking Deer. .... 

Drake's Arrival at Ternate. 

Drake Knighted by Queen Elizabctli. 

Attack on the Spanish Armada. 

Sir .John Hawkins 

Sir Francis Drake 

Funeral of Sir Francis Drake. . 

Death at Sea . 

The North Cape. 

Henry Hudson and the Half-Moon on Hudson 
Henry Hudson and Crew at Manhattan Island 
Hudson Trading with the Natives. . 

Henry Hudson 

Hudson and His Ship P'rozen In. 

The Breaking Up of the Ice. 

Hudson ( 'ast Adrift by His Crew . 

Tlie Fate of Henry Hudson. 

.Fames I., King of England. 

BalUn in the Arctic Regions. 

Ballin Kxplores the Coast of Greenland. . 

'I'asman's Jlen Attacked and Killed by Native; 

Fight with Canoes 

Peaceful Demonstrations by Natives. 
Peter the Great, Czar of Russia. 

Petropaulovski 

The Sick Carried on Shore. 

Captain James Cook. .... 

The Council Discussing What Direction to Sail 

Patagoni.ins on Horseback. 

King of Timor. ...... 



River. 



PAGE. 

407 
40!l 



414 
417 

Full Page 424 
431 
432 

FuU Page 434 
435 



437 
Full Page 438 
442 
444 
447 
44n 
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Full Page 456 
4.59 
461 
463 
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475 
47S 
481 
dl Page 482 
484 
Full Page 4.SG 
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492 
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49S 



Fi 



501 

502 
nil Page .504 

.")0(; 

507 

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524 
nil Page 526 

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536 
539 

'nil Page 542 
544 
547 
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.595 



ll.l.rsi'KATIOXS. 



l';ita);oni:in SavuK»'s Foaslin^ on Cai-rion. 

The Landing l)isp\aiMl 

Attarkeil liy a Jlalay Pirate Vessel. . 
Malting Their V'isitors Siiifr and Dance. . 
jMadanioisellc Uarre'.s Adventure. 
Tahitian Cliief Fed by Jlis Wives. 
Captain Cook lias a Fight witli the Natives. 
Cannibalisni Seen by Captain Cook at Tahiti. 

Tlie Natives Make Signs 

Native Festival and Dani'e in Cook's Honor. 
Discovering Keniains of < annibal Feast. . 
The Natives Worsliip Captain Cook as a God. 

A Toothsome Ollering 

Native MonumDnt on the Site of Death of Capt 



(UH) 
(iOl 
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A^^iv.^^ 




^^ INTRODUCTION. ^^ 

HE first chapter of this volume is a charming compilation., 
of the legends of the discoveries of North America 
before the famous vo3'age of Columbus, in which the 
trade winds wafted his ships to the West Indies. The 
testimony seems so clear that it wovild be eccentric to 
declare strenuously against the conclusiou upon cir- 
cumstancial evidence, that the Northmen repeatedly visited Green- 
land and were acquainted with Newfoundland, Nantucket, Long 
Island, and perhaps Rhode Island. 

There are traditions in Iceland that corroborate the legendary 
stories of the adventurous Northmen, and they add that Columbus 
visited Iceland fourteen years before he immortalized himself as the 
discoverer of the "new world." It is a part of the story of Colum- 
bus in Iceland that he became intimately acquainted with the antique 
lore of that American island. It is worth while to remember that 
the westward capes of Iceland are less than three hundred miles from 
Greenland, while the eastern capes are between nine hundred and a 
thousand miles from Norway. 

It is a plain proposition that in the course of the centuries the 
capital of Iceland was settled in 874. The writer visited that island 
one thousand years later, with Cyrus Field, Dr. I. I. Hayes, Bayard 
Taylor, Professors Magnusson and Kneeland and Mr. Henry Glad- 
stone, who imported a pony to Hawarden. The founding of the city 
was five hundred and eighteen years before the Columbus discovery. 
If it be true that Colum' .is visited Iceland fourteen years before he 
found the West Indic^^ —the year of his visit was 1478 and Re3'k- 
javeek had then bee founded more than five hundred years, within 
easy sail in three or four days of Greenland. The people were largely 
competent navigators with sea-going craft, and the land westward 
could not have been unfamiliar to them. 



xviii INTRODUCTION. 

There was nothing strange or doubtful in using a fact made known 
freely that there was land in the West. It does not reduc. the 
splendor of the achievement of Columbus that he heard the story. 
He made use of it. He found in the presence of land in the West 
a corroboration of his dreams, that gave a footing to his fanc)\ 

The Icelandic tradition is that a Bishop was maintained for a 
long time in Iceland, and that a gorge of ice massed on the coast 
that lasted forty years, and then there was only desolate silence. 

After the " Decline and Fall " of the Roman Empire, Northern 
Ital}' was celebrated for commercial sxipi-emacy, glories in art and 
cities of special splendors and power ; and for immortal authors, 
artists in literature, sculpture, architecture and painting. Rome 
remained when the Empire crumbled into mighty fragments, '' The 
Eteriial City ; " and though there was an Eastern Empire and a rival 
capital — Constantinople — to divide the immense inheritance, the 
swarms of Asiatic conquerors came after the capture of the Oriental 
metropolis and converted the magnificent dominant church, St. 
Sophia, into a veritable and memorable mosque — a citadel of Moham- 
med in Christendom ; and the myriads of Mohammedans seeking 
Paradise swept over Southern Spain, first baffled at Vienna and at 
last beaten on the central plains of France, at Chalons. 

Unlike Alexander, when his legions marched to India and he grew 
weary of conquest and carousal, Rome encountered other uncon- 
quered worlds, and found material occupation in crusades and 
cathedrals and the marvelous organizations of the then new, now old 
Church of Rome. 

Naples survived the eruptions of Vesuvius, and the irruption of 
the barbarians from the heart of Europe, remained the Queen City 
of the Italian South, when Carthage, like Tyre, was buried in her 
own ruins. Rome and Greece, however, taught the new nations 
rising on the wings of stately ships, over the antiquities of Egypt, 
to open the road to India ; and opulent tradesmen, guided by those 
who lived in the shadows of the Alps, the lagoons of the Adriatic, 
the pleasant river Arno and the shores of the bright central waters 
of the Mediterranean, gave the sunny historic lands a larger life. 

When Rome was no longer the imperial throne of the world, the 



INTRODUCTION. xix 

camels, called cleverly the " ships of the deserts " in Africa, gave way 
to the fleets that represented world-wide sea powers, and gathered the 
golden harvest between the ends of the earth. 

The representative and commanding cities of the revival of civili- 
zation, when the sword of old Rome ceased to devour, and the later 
and fairer forms of progress became manifest, were four — Venice, 
Genoa, Pisa and Florence. Venice, the bride of the sea, was first in 
the illustrious capitals that became nations. Florence lacked the 
embrace of the sea to inspire her to be the home of wide dominion, and 
became the glorious city of the Beautiful, the star of the Appenines. 

Pisa was the rival of Genoa, as Genoa of Venice ; but was long 
lived and strong enough to be of the leaders of the Crusaders, and 
carried home from Palestine forty ship loads of the precious hills 
around Jerusalem, to heap her Campo Santo with sacred soil, and to 
this end disfigured, with the scars of excavation the landscapes over- 
looking Solomon's temple, the scene of the Cross of Christ ; and the 
sepulchre from the door of which the stone rolled away. 

When we remember the fleet of Pisa, laden with soil touched by 
the Saviour's feet to make holy a graveyard in Italy, we meet the 
thought that after all a higher intelligence could declare that 
skepticism of the " relics " ridiculed by unbelievers in mysteries, 
might reasonably be relaxed, in view of the stranger things we know 
have happened ; and that, as we see in these days, miracles of 
science we need not deny the existence of memorials of Christian- 
ity though obscured in detail by savagery in the gloom of the 
desolation that overtook the conquests, won in the sign of the cross, 
when the sword and torch of Mohammed prevailed and gave the 
memorials of Christians to graves and dust heaps. The Crusaders, 
the Greek Emperors, and the statelj^ Italian cities, gathered a harvest 
with their armies of historical relics in the Holy Lands. 

Christopher Columbus is not believed by the people of Genoa to 
have been born in that city. The testimony, so far as we may use 
the word, where enlightenment compels the existence of uncertainty, 
is that the great navigator was born in a village on the shores of the 
Gulf of Genoa, north of the city and near the sea, in the midst of 
quarries that yielded red stone. 



XX INTliODl'CTION. 

The exact locatiou of the house that is loosely called the birthplace 
of Columbus, is not known, but there is interesting truth. There is 
evidence that a house identified with the Columbus family was the 
propert}' of his father, and the home of the child who gave the name 
distinction. The house bears marks, not recent, that it has been 
changed since the boy Christopher was of the humble home 
household. It has been duly photographed, after the examination 
of records, proving it the habitation of the Columbus family. It is 
on the south side of a steep and narrow street, running from the 
harbor to the hills. On one side, when the writer found it, was a 
wine shop, and on the other a tobacco shop. 

The present appearances are that the original house has been 
reconstructed, so far as the front is concerned, into two houses. The 
one the father of Columbus, the discoverer, lived in, is that on the 
left of the building as presented in engravings. The form of the 
windows, and the narrowness of each of the structures as they .stand 
invite this theory. Legal documents exist proving the Columbus 
folk lived in this place for several generations, including the 
time of the birth of the man child of high destiny. 

There is a photograph of the house taken by an American consul, 
who investigated the neighborhood and also the official pigeon holes 
that seemed to speak of the receptacles of man}' secrets ; but the 
only fact discovered was that the " house of Columbus " was the 
property and home of the people of which, in that place, Christopher 
Columbus was one of the children, and that it was for several 
generations the dwelling place of those who derived title from the 
navigator's father. There was not, in or near the grim place, a good 
play ground for the j-oungsters, and it has the appearance of a 
promise that it will remain imchanged for the centuries to come, as 
during like periods in the past. 

When Cohimbus made the discovery identified with his name, the 
spirit of adventure was abroad in the world, and the art of navigation 
improving .so rapidly that evidently the appointed time was close at 
hand, for the revelation of the gigantic continents connected b}^ a 
narrow but rugged isthmus, awaiting cxj^lorers to be announced as 
the new world. 



INTRODUCTION. xxi 

Clearly, Columbus was a man of extraordinary breadth of informa- 
tion and strength of character. He had deep convictions that there 
was land in the West. He knew substantially the shape of the 
world, the fact that it sloped off toward the poles, and tliat the farther 
North one sailed, the narrower were the seas measured East and 
West, and the longer and colder the winters grew. He knew the 
Atlantic ocean broadened southward, and had read of the far East of 
Asia. Cipango and Cathay were Japan and China. 

The travels and writings of them by Marco Polo, kindled the 
imagination of the hardy Genoese sailor, destined to the delivery of 
the stroke of an enchanter's wand, that prepared the way for other 
and broader discoveries, among them the realization of the magnitude 
of the globe. 

Dreamer that he was, Columbus never dreamed that the earth was 
great as appeared when the impulse given by his voyages led in a few 
years comparatively to the completion of circumnavigation of the 
globe. The first ship that sailed around the earth was that carrying 
the flag of Magellan's squadron. The ship returned, the last of the 
fleet, with its captain, but the commander in chief of the squadron 
was slain in attempting to conquer a beautiful island of the subse- 
quently named Phillippine archipelago. He fought to force the 
inhabitants to become the subjects of a Christian king, and was 
killed in the fight. 

When the flag ship arrived on the return to Africa, through the 
straits of Magellan, a day had been lost in the reckoning, but the 
demonstration was made that the world was round. 

Columbus had letters for the Mikado of the age, the Great Kahn 
imperial house of Japan had then been in power more than two 
thousand years. The enormous error had been made by the Genoese 
navigator that the island of Cuba was Cipango. He sent forth mes- 
sengers with letters of introduction to the sovereign of Japan, and 
they discovered a people of nakedness and innocence, smoking a 
strange herb they called " tabac." 

The discoverer followed the coast of Cuba in two of his voyages, 
until convinced he had struck the mainland of Asia. On his last 
vo3^age, he saw the coast of South America, but did not land. In 



xxii INTRODUCTION. 

his calculations, believing the globe was round like an egg, he had 
omitted the Americas and the Pacific ocean. If he had lived to 
ascertain the bulk of the world, he would have been amazed at the 
prodigality of nature, in manufacturing worlds made of meteors. 

The West Indies, as the islands were named, Columbus actually 
discovered, turned out richer in natural resources than those of the 
East. It was the fortune of' the navigator to have a spell of fair 
weather assigned him in the discovery of a far greater land than 
India, an island surpassing Cipango, in extent, fruitfulness and 
beauty, if we may count the unlimited ages, to find a bigger and more 
bountiful Cathay in Asia. 

The letters of the discoverer in describing his islands are poems in 
fact, and glow with the rapture of a wonderful achievement. They 
are beautiful in poetry and piety, penetrated with a deep sense of duty 
to Christianity, with devotion to his Church, and he was radiant in 
his writings about the incomparable loveliness that environed him- — 
the colors of ihe fish in the rivers rivaling the bloom of the wilder- 
ness that was a majestic and opulent orchard of fruit trees. There 
was waiting for him, as he beheld the dazzling landscapes disclosed, 
an awful enemy native to the voluptuous airs, destined to destro}- 
navies, compared with which his caravels were as fi.shing boats, built 
to keep within view of hospitable shores. 

Columbus arrived in the West Indies in the cyclone season. The 
mouth of October in that clime especially experiences the terrible 
tempests that wreck the forests and rend the cities. It is the month 
of " the hurricane's eclip.se of the sun." The discoverer lingered in 
the enchanted air, hurricane haunted, hoping to find Cipango, until 
he reluctantly departed from his ow'u Paradise. There was peace 
while he waited. Everj'where he found surpassing beauties of sea and 
sky and shore. 

All the blandishments of the tropics were spread to banquet his 
senses to indulge the fascination of suspense and the fancies he 
painted of the coming time. The mighty whirlwinds that begin as 
bubbles of the languid atmosphere of the American Mediterranean 
and send forth their tornadoes like thunderbolts northward and north- 
westward, were stilled that sober October ; but storms overtook and 



INTRODUCTION. xxiii 

Bearly overwhelmed the Conquering Hero, when, on the waters the 
trade winds had beguiled him westward. Despairing at last of escap- 
ing from the aroused Atlantic, he wrote a brief story of his " find " in 
the West, placed the parchment in a cake of wax, and the wax in a 
keg, and so fixed the scroll to float when his ship went down. 

There was a change from stormy to fair, and he returned to Spain 
to receive great honors, and slights, jealousies and treacheries, through 
which he endured labor and sorrow to the end of his life, and died to 
be four times buried — in San Domingo once, Cuba once, and Spain 
first and last. Counting his crossing the Atlantic living and dead, 
his voyages over that stormy sea, from side to side, were ten. His 
longest repose was in the cathedral of Havana, where he had an un- 
finished monument, like "an empty glass turned down," as Spain 
lost her last island that Colon found for Isabella and Ferdinand. 

The new world in the West was not monopolized by the Spaniards, 
for Portugal was the finder of South America, the Cape of Good Hope 
doubled, and the waterway to India opened by the Dutch, and the 
ships of the desert were superseded by the ships that sailed the seas. 
Then the Italian cities slowly faded as the fleets on the Indian and 
Atlantic oceans succeeded the caravans in the golden trade in the 
treasures of India. The Dutch and the Portuguese were the only 
peoples who contested the universal commercial dominion that sud- 
denly appeared in the strong hands of the Spaniards, as the grandest 
field known for the propaganda of religion and the expansion of com- 
merce. 

Three great peoples, also three great nations, had geographical 
advantages in the early occupancy of the opportunities of the added 
hemisphere. We refer to the Spaniards, French and British, then in 
the highest form of their strength, spirit and enterprise, and more than 
all, their almost exhaustless vitalities. They were especially obeying 
the benign injunction to multiply and replenish the earth, and the colo- 
nial systems of Spain and her rivals became the passions of powers. 

The competing nations for the possessions across the Alantic, of 
the North Temperate zone, and the Arctic slope and Tropic belt of 
the globe, were of the western shore of Eiirope, and the great islands 
and peninsulas, the discoverer himself a native of Italy under the 



patronage of Spaiu ; aud the English and French, heedless of claims 
to incomparable continents, warred against the monopoly of the new 
world by the first of the sightseers. 

The second decline of Italy, from t.ie foremo.st and most lofty of 
the progressive people of the Middle Ages, and the days of the higher 
destin}' of the four superb history making cities had departed. The 
great powers — England, France and Spaiu — that wrought for and 
fought for the American acquisition were combating among themselves 
through generations. There were no people within range of conten- 
tion with this mighty triumvirate of states growing colonies, and 
for a time the developments of tlieir vast ambition were rather pacific 
and commercial than ])elligerent. They had no idea that the states- 
manship of arbitration existed. 

The fateful happening in locating the colonial pretensions of the 
respective enterprises undertaken for the foundations of New Spain, 
New France and New England, gave each great uation its choice 
almost without conscious volition, but there was no peace. The 
Americas involved Europe in tedious-wars. There was naturalness in 
the vSpanish liking for the sub-tropics, and so we trace them all around 
the American Mediterranean ; and as Portugal had the east side of 
South America conceded to her, the Spaniards sailed southward after 
they found the Pacific unoccupied ; aud as Cortez dealt with Monte- 
zuma and Gautomazen, Pizarro proceeded to the conquest of Peru 
and the spoil of the Incas. 

The greed for gold •rt'as the direct cause for the destruction of the 
child-like people of the islands discovered by Columbus. The Caribs 
were the fighting Indians of the Indies, aud they were desperadoes 
hard to overcome, but rapidly slaughtered as the Spaniards flocked 
to the scenes of riches and enchantment. The Caribs ate human 
flesh, and in war devoured the slain of their enemies. 

A wonderful devotion and enthusiasm was characteristic of many 
of the Spanish priests, but the}' could not protect the peaceable and 
credulous people the\' sought to convert. The natives perished 
rapidly from the tasks imposed and the hardships the genteel idlers 
had forced upon them. The introduction of negroes, that became so 
dire a problem, was because the blacks could undergo more privation 



INTRODUCTION. xxv 

than the primitive and tender natives, but the negroes fared no better 
as to longevity. 

It was said that for many years there was a fanc}' impressed upon 
the aborigines that the blacks were immortal creatures, " because all 
the dead ones they ever seen had been hanged." If a black man 
failed to work satisfactorily under the lash, he was turned over to 
the hangman. 

Arthur Help's " Spanish Conquest " is the standard history of the 
Spanish occupation of America, and gives this surprising but authen- 
tic account of the introduction of the Africans, because they were 
better laborers than the native Americans. 

The authority of Las Casas stands for the shocking story of Trini- 
dad. We quote : 

" There was a certain man named Juan Bono, and he was employed 
by the members of the aiidiejicia of St. Domingo to go and obtain 
Indians. He and his men, to the number of fifty or sixty, landed on 
the island of Trinidad. Now the Indians of Trinidad were a mild, 
credulous race, the enemies of tho'Caribs, who ate human flesh. 

." On Juan Bono's landing, the Indians, armed with bows and arrows, 
went to meet the Spaniards, and to ask them who they were and what 
they wanted. Juan Bono replied that his crew were good and peace 
able people, who had come to live with the Indians ; upon which, as 
the commencement of good fellowship, the natives offered to build 
houses for the Spaniards. 

" The Spanish captain expressed a wish to have one large house 
built. The accommodating Indians set about building it. It was to 
be in the form of a bell, and to be large enough for a hundred persons 
to live in. On any great occasions it would hold many more. Every 
daj'^, while this house was being built, the Spaniards were fed with 
fish, bread and fruit by their good-natured hosts. Juan Bono was 
very anxious to see the roof on, and the Indians continued to work 
at the building with alacrity. At last it was completed, being two 
stories high, and so constructed that those within could not see those 
withoiit. 

" Upon a certain day Juan Bono collected the Indians together, 
men, women and children, in the building, to see, as he told them. 



xxvi INTIJODICTION. 

' what was to be done.' Whether they thought they were coming to 
some festival, or that they were to do something more for the great 
house, does not appear. However, they were all there four hundred 
of them, looking with much delight on their own handiwork. 

" Meanwhile, Juan Bono brought his men round the building with 
drawn swords in their hands ; then, having thoroughly entrapped his 
Indian friends, he entered with a party of armed men and bade the 
Indians keep still or he would kill them. The}' did not listen to him, 
but rushed against the door. A horrible massacre ensued. Some of 
the Indians forced their way out ; but many of them, stupefied at 
what the}' saw, and losing heart, were captured and bound. A hun- 
dred, however, escaped, and snatching up their arms, assembled in 
one of their own houses and prepared to defend themselves. 

" Juan Bono summoned them to surrender ; they would not hear 
of it ; and then, as Las Casas says, ' He resolved to pay them com- 
pletely for their hospitality and kind treatment he had received,' and 
so, setting fire to the house, the whole hundred men, together with 
.some women and children, were bu^-ned alive.'' 

This is an example of the horrors of the Conquest, one of hun- 
dreds of chapters. 

Cortes entered the city of Tenochtitlan on the 8th of November, 
1519, and was received by Montezuma, who was very hospitable 
toward the Spaniards, because he feared them. Cortes presently 
aroused the Mexicans, who rebelled against Montezuma and aided the 
Spaniards with swarms of warriors, who were with him when he 
seized the monarch and governed in his name. After many scenes 
of slaughter, the great city was taken and retaken. 

Cortes was aided by Spaniards fascinated by the splendors of the 
opulent city, who hastened to reinforce him, and the fighting became 
desperate. He was very haughty after putting down a rebellion by 
the Spaniards, and his enemies pressed him to desperation. He had 
reserved Montezuma as a last resource, and caused the captive king 
to be presented to the mob. They turned on him and gave him 
wounds from which he soon expired in the arms of his attendants. 

The Mexicans were not like the islanders. They lived in good 
houses, many of them stone. They were a mighty people, surrounded 



INTRODUCTION. xxvii 

by tributary states, easily induced to revolt, and eager for plunder. 
Cortes was a rude but very capable soldier, a marvel in deception, 
composed in battle and yet frantic in tbe midst of slaughter. He 
spared the monarch he made his slave no humiliation, using him 
against his own people until they killed him, though they adored 
him. 

Gautomazen, when put on coals to be tortured that he might dis- 
cover gold to reward murderers, and taunted in his torments, cried 
that he was " not on a bed of roses." 

The Pizarros in Peru pursued a masterful policy of treachery in 
the pursuit of treasury, and in all the Spanish colonies were like 
scenes of tragedy, and the native savages victims of more savage 
men — white men — who came across the ocean and inflicted upon the 
black and red slaves horrible tasks in working in deep mines carrying 
ore on their heads up dizzy ladders, sparing no horror in their bloody 
raids for riches. 

Pizarro played with the Inca of Peru a game quite like that of 
Cortes in Mexico. Atahuallpa, the Inca, was captured by stratagem 
and seized, used, abused, driven to despair and murdered when he 
gave a room full of gold, piled as high as he could reach, to be set 
free. This prince of Peru was held by his people to be a god ; and 
when he threw upon the ground the Spaniards' Bible, that was 
charged as one of his moral crimes. The Peruvian god, as he was 
worshipped, was enough converted to be spgj-ed burning to death. In 
his simplicity, he preferred glass to gold, because he could see him- 
self in mirrors. He was, at the end, much honored. The story of 
the murder of the Inca is this : 

" When the sentence was communicated to the Inca, loud were his 
protestations against the injustice, the tyranny, and the ill-faith of 
Pizarro ; but all these complaints availed him nothing ; and he 
prepared himself for death with that dignity which men who have 
long held high station, and have been accustomed to act before a 
large audience, are wont to show, as if they said to themselves, 'We 
play a great part in human life, and that part shall suffer no diminu- 
tion of its dignity in our hands.' When brought to the place of 
execution he said that he would be a Christian, the threat of burning 



xxviii INTRODrrXTOX. 

being found, as it often has been, a great enlightenment npon 
difficnlt points of doctrine. 

" Viuceute de Valverde baptized the Inca nnder the name of Don 
Juan Atahuallpa, and the new convert was then tied to a stake. Just 
before his death he recommended to the governor his little children, 
whom he desired to have near him, and with these last words he was 
suddenly strangled with a cross-bow string. That night his body 
was left in the great square, and in the morning he was buried with 
all pomp and honor in the church which the Spaniards had already 
built, all the principal lords and caciques who served him received 
much satisfaction, considering the great honor which had been done 
him, knowing that by reason of his having been made a Christian he 
was not burned alive, and that he was buried in the church as if he 
had been a Spaniard." 

This martyr was avenged by the Spaniards themselves, because 
his riches were celebrated, and there were many adventurers from 
Spain who fought for their share of the spoil, and they massacred 
each other in a Spanish civil war, in which the Pizarros perished. 

The heroism of the discoverers of the new world, in spite of all 
their deeds of glory, and the toil of good men to avert the doom for 
shedding the blood of the nations the incomparable land of promise 
was dishonored bj- robbery and murder, Spain declined in the midst 
of her conquests, and the blood of the innocent crj'ing fronj the 
ground did not cry in vain. The sword devoured according to the 
doom that they who take the sword perish bj^ it. Spain has lost her 
last colony in the American Hemisphere, and ceased to be one of the 
great nations. 

It was the fate of France to be assigned by events that uncontrolled, 
drifted to the snow}- rather than snnny lands, and her wonderful 
work in the colonies of Canada, by their hunters and missionaries of 
surpassing energy, faith and courage, made an impression that has 
endured more than a century, in the dominion of their conquerer, 
England. 

The French in the hrst place appeared to steer from the northern 
ports due West, and the thoughtful purpose, or obstinate habit, carried 
them on this side the Atlantic far to the North. Even j'et the people 



INTRODUCTION. xxix 

of North America are troubled to realize that England is in the 
latitude of Labrador, and France and Spain on the lines that drawn 
westward would strike Canada and New England. The French 
steamers to this day have an inclination to go further North, on the 
way to New York or Boston, than the English care to go ; and the 
maxim that governs much navigation is, that the nearer a European 
boat runs to Cape Race, the shorter the voyage. 

The fact that the liners bound for Europe from New York, have 
to run six hundred miles North in order to reach the English 
channel, seems to those not educated to an accurate understanding, 
unaccountable. On this side the sign that speaks of the North is 
the run through the fogs of the banks of Newfoundland. The Gulf 
Stream saves the British Islands from the climate of Labrador, as 
the Pacific currents bearing Northeast, soften our winters in Oregon 
and Washington, and extend the influences of the vast tropic seas 
to the Pacific Coast. 

It has turned out distinctly the better way for the people of the 
United States, that the English colonies did not clash with those of 
France in the North and Spain in the South, but were first placed on 
the bleak rocks of Massachusetts and the fertile banks of the broad 
tidal James river in Virginia. 

There were great differences between New England regions and 
the Potomac country where was mingled a happy medium between 
Massachusetts and Virginia, while New York, New Jersey and Dela- 
ware were plainly of the temperate zone, with the immeasurable, in 
the olden time, the background of the continent, for new States. 

The Carolinas and Georgia were the South land ; and it was well 
that generous Virginia was endowed by royal grants with the North- 
west. It was a shadowy kingly title she held, but she had in its shade 
the potentiality of a mighty nation. It reached the great lakes and 
Virginia was the first to fight the French and Indians for the Ohio 
country ; and the Mississippi was bovmd to the domain of the South 
Atlantic colonies by the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers. The 
movers west were directed by the sunsets of summer days. 

When the Northwest passed from the colonial possession of Vir- 
ginia into the responsibilities of self government, the Virginian 



XXX INTRODUCTION. 

Presidential Dynasty added to the original States and Territories the 
Franco-Spanish possessions Napoleon had to sell. Then the future 
World Power gained her Pacific coast and Andrew Jackson's sword 
completed the conquest that Thomas Jefferson's pen prepared. 

The English speaking colonial people, instinctively moved by the 
logic of the history of the race, avoided extremes of heat and cold, 
and the heart of the continent was hers, with the Mississippi Valley 
to perpetuate with its magnificent unity and magnetic attraction, that 
in harmony secured the Union of States forever. 

It was fortunate that George Washington was the first President, 
and had in his Cabinet Jefferson and Hamilton, and that Adams 
should have been the successor of Washington, and Jefferson the 
successor of Adams. Then Virginian statesmanship and her mili- 
tar}'^ chieftainship also had great parts to play, and played them with 
the gifts the peoj^le gave. It ended with the expansion of the whole 
country, and Jackson and Polk, of Tennessee, established constitu- 
tional consolidation. There seemed to be wisdom for all in the 
American air, so great that the builders had an inspiration that gave 
them constructive art more than they knew, and they builded for 
their generation wiser than was known in their days or by themselves. 

We, even now, have not full}^ realized the value of the land north 
and south of our boundary lines ; and it is more and more true that 
the colder climes teem with surpassing treasures, in fruit and grain 
lands, and iron, copper and gold mines. 

If the English had discovered and settled the American Indies, 
they would, according to the forces of the people, have established, 
with their inventive eagerness and the favors of soil and climate, an 
empire including all the shores of the gulf, and the islands great and 
small ; and perhaps it would have been the seat of the greatest 
slave labor power that has been founded since the Tartars and Arabs 
subordinated Asia. The shores of our great central seas would not. 
if possessed all around by our people, have been a country dedicated 
to free labor. 

The list of new world heroes is long, beginning with Columbus 
and closing with Captain Cook. The maps showing routes, followed 
by discoveries of the new world, giving plainly all the routes of 



INTRODUCTION. xxxi 

Columbus from the African to the American islands ; also the routes 
of the Northmen and of Davis, Forbisher, Sebastian Cabot, Henry 
Hudson, Cartier and John Cabot. 

The heroes whose names are recorded worthy a place among the 
illustrious adventurers and heroes who extended the borders of knowl- 
edge are : Americus Vespucius, who made four voyages, Sebastian 
Cabot, the discoverer of North America ; Balboa, discoverer of the 
Pacific Ocean ; Magellan, discoverer of the South Pacific ; Cabral, 
discoverer of Brazil ; Fernando Cortez, conqueror of Mexico ; Fran- 
cisco Pizarro, the discoverer of Peru ; Ferdinand De Soto, discoverer of 
the Mississippi River ; Jacques Cartier, discoverer of Canada ; Juan 
Fernandez, discoverer of Robinson Crusoe's island ; Sir Martin Fro- 
bisher, hero of the Northwest Passage ; Sir Francis Drake, the 
Elizabethan navigator ; John Davis, the second Arctic navigator ; 
Henry Hudson, the great Dutch navigator ; Tasman Vitus Beh- 
ring, Russian navigator; Captain James Cook, the explorer of the 
South Sea. 

The heroes were not the captains only, but the men of action and 
labor, who were faithful to the cause in which they enlisted, and dared 
to do their duty against odds ; and the lesson is at the beginning of 
the Americanism that is a power that girdles the globe, that honor 
and fame belong to the brave and true, to the heroes in the ranks ; 
and it is their due alwaj's to have fair play to win their way. 

The Spaniards lost strength as a people in the excessive immigra- 
tion of the men who fought in Mexico and Peru, along the Missis- 
sippi, and in the Floridas, and the wars with the brigands of the gulf. 
Spanish life was lavished from Arkansas to the Amazon, and in the 
mines from the Peruvian Andes to California. The thunder of the 
navies of England, Spain and France, fighting for the new Indies, in 
their combats that decided the ownership of the treasure ships of the 
Spaniards. It was not until the French appeared at Yorktown to cut 
off the retreat of Coruwallis, and Rodney beat the French off Mar- 
tinique when the}'^ were on their way to Jamaica, and avenger Eng- 
lish defeat off the capes of Virginia. 

The closing scene of West Indian warfare was wUen tne fleet of 
England sailed away from New Orleans, bafiled by Kentucky rifles. 



xjcxii INTRODrCTloN. 

The last Spaiiisli squadrou passed away in a battle storm, fighting for 
the last American island belonging to Spain, in sight of Santiago 
along Cnba's sonthern shore, and there was added to the list of the 
heroic men of Spain, fighting in vain, the name of Cervera, who 
fought to the finish the last battle for his conntr\'. 

This book fills in better form and st)'le, with greater evidence of 
deep research and steadfast labor, than can be fonnd in the same 
space in the libraries that contain the records of the heroic men and 
the wondrons resources and scenery of the Americas ; and it surpasses 
all that has been presented to the public, of the stories of the careers 
of Columbus and his followers. There has been no chapter in the 
world's History exceeding the story of the New World that Colon 
gave to Castile and Leon, in combining the fascination of romance 
with the assurance of history, richer in the strife of human endeavor, 
rarer in the dramatic incidents of true tragedies, more instructive in 
the deeds of brave men in strange countries and uncommon situations, 
than is harvested here, and recorded in attractive form. 

It condenses the treasures of libraries, and sets forth with the 
excellence of simplicity the truthful tales of the ages of American 
discovery and adventure, that made possible the progress that is best 
described as American, gives the foremost of the heroic characters that 
which is due. the glorx' of his deeds, and the pathos of his suflferings 
that all appear in the lines school children know so well, and recite 
so often that all men and women know and cherish and give with 
their love to the children : 

Columbia, Columbia, 
To glory arise ; 
The Queen of the World. 
The child of the skie.s. 
Thy geuiu.s commands me, 
With rapture behold, 
While ages on ages 
Thy splendors imfokl. 




New World Heroes 

(IF 

Exploration, Discovery anu Conuuest. 



CHAPTER 

AMKIUCA l^.EFOKE t'OLUMiJUS. 

Plan of the Work — 1 )ivi>ic.iis nl' History — Eg_v]ili:iii Knowledge of America — (Jtlier JiCgciuls 
--Carthagi-niaii Discoveries — Records Found — A (Trecian Tomb in America— Similarity of 
Picture Writing — Chinese Discovei'ies — Difficulties of Mari'time Enterprises — Invention of 
the Compass — Welsh-Speaking Indians — The Norsemen — Erik the Red — Discovery of Green- 
land — Leif s Voyage — The Round Tower— The First Fight witli the Indians. 

IT is our j)urpose in tliis volume to trace the liistory of the 2;reut diseov- 
eries begiuniiiif in the memorable year 1492; to show liovv not only 
Columbus labored and waited until his <>;reat opportunity came, but the 
adventures and hardships through wliicli iiis contemporaries and successors 
souglit out the mysteries surrounding that Ne\v World. 

Before entering upon this task, however, it will be well to consider the 
stories told of various seamen who had sought and found the fiir-otf conti- 
nent, before Columbus. We sliallalso see what dim knowledge of a land 
beyond the great \vestern ocean was current among the peoples of antiquity. 

History is usually divided into three parts. Ancient history ends with tiie 
fall of Rome, in 476 A.D.; the History of the Middle Ages then begins, and 
extends over a period of about ten centuries ; since the end of which, the re- 
cord is call(;d Modern History. During the lirst period, there were certain 
traditions regarding a country Avhich was probably America ; during the 
second period there may have been some daring sailors who reached the 
Ne\v World ; the third period begins with the story of exploration, discovery 
and .settlement in America. 

Solon, one of tlie seven wise men of (xreece, who li\ ed in the sixth and 
seventh centuries B.C., traveled into far countries, to learn all that the sages 
of other nations had to teach. When he reached Egypt, he thought to aston- 
ish the priests — -tiie learned men of the country — by telling them of the his- 
tory of Greece, and particularly of Athens, of which city he was a native. 

"Solon, Solon!" exclaimed one of the oldest of them; "the Greeks are 
nothing but children, and an aged Greek there is none." 

125) 



26 AMKRICA ItlJ'OKK COI.IMIUS. 

Much surprised at this, the li'avcler asked the priest wliat he meant ; and 
received in replj' su<h an account of the knowledge wiiicli the E{iyi)tians 
possessed of other peoples, as to make him accept for truth wiiat had seemed 
but an idle boast. 

Among other things, the old priest told him of a vast island, or rather coiili- 
nent, wliicli once lay in the great ocean, to tiic west of Europe, and w liidi 
was reached by a short voyage after the sailor had passed tiie Pillars of Her- 
cules, as the Strait of Gibraltar was then called. The people of this conti- 
nent had often made war upon those of Europe, and had been much dreaded 
by them; but asei-ics of earthquakes, volcanic ermitions, and similar calami 
tics, had caused this great island to sink into the waters of the ocean, with 
all its vast hordes of inhabitants; and the peoples of Europe had thus b(>en 
saved from these terrible enemies. The sinking of this island, the jjricst 
added, hail so blocked up the ocean with mud as to make it forever afterward 
impassable. The date of its destruction he tixcd at a jidint about nine 
thousand years before his own time. 

Solon returned to Greece, bearing this information with iiim; but it does 
not seem to have been made public until the time of his descendant Plato, 
who lived about two hundred years later; and we have no means of knowing 
how much Plato added to the original story from the treasury of his own 
mind. It is from this source tiiat we derive the classic fables of IlieLost 
Atlantis. 

There were legends, too, of the (iardens of the Ilespcridcs, and of the 
Fortunate Islands, and, later, of St. I?randan"s Island and other favored 
places, far in the west; but whether these had any connection with a belief 
in land beyond the Atlantic, or whether this was simply considered a conven- 
ient situation for the scene of such stories, since nobody knew enough of this 
region to say the islands were not there, wc cannot pretend to say. 

It is possible that America was reached by the Phienician and Cartliagin- 
iaa sailors, tlie most adventurous of anticpiity. But the Phcenicians were 
early reduced to insignificance among the nations of the world, while the 
Carthaginians, whose city they had founded, rose into importance. But 
Carthage engaged in wars with Rome, and was tonally wholly destroyed by 
the armies of that gi'cat city; and all record of her colonies and discoveries 
was thus lost. It is certain that Carthaginian sailors discovered the Canary 
Islands, which were then uninhabited; and these islands were peopled from 
Carthage; yet, when they were re-discovered, the inhal)itants had lost all 
tradition of their ancestors having come from another country, and thought' 
themselves the only people in the world. 

Traditions which have survived the destruction of Carthage tell us that a 
vessel on the Mediterranean, which was sailing towards the Straits of Gib- 
raltar, the ancient Calpe, was driven by storms beyond it. and was heard of 



AMERICA BEFORE COLUMUl S. ll 

no more. Did it reach America? At a meeting of the Mexican Geographical 
Society, some few years since, it was stated that some brass tablets had been 
discovered in the northern part of Brazil, covered with PhaMiician inscrip- 
tions, which tell of the discovery of America five centuries before the begin- 
ning of the Christian efa. These are now in the museum at Rio Janeiro. 
They state that a Sidonian fleet sailed from a harbor in the Red Sea, and 
rounding the Cape of Good Hojje, was driven by the south-east trade-winds, 
and then by the north-east, across the Atlantic. The number of the vessels, 
the number of seamen, and many other particulars are there given. 




A Phcexician Vessel. 

In 1827, a farmer near Montevideo, in Uruguay, South America, is said 
to have discovered a flat stone which bore an inscription in a language un- 
known to him. Beneath it was a vault of masonry, in which was deposited 
two ancient swords, a helmet, and a shield. The stone which had covered 
the vault was taken to Montevideo, where it was found that the inscription 
was in most parts sufliciently legible to be deciphered. According to those 
learned men who examined it, it was in Greek, and read as follows: — 

"During the dominion of Alexander, the son of Philip, King of Macedon, in the sixty- 
third Olympiad, Ptolemais." 

On the handle of one of the swords was a man's portrait, supposed to be 
that of Alexander; the helmet was decorated with a fine sculpture represent- 
ing Achilles dragging the body of Hector around the walls of Troy. If this 
is indeed a relic of times before Columbus, it would indicate that during the 
reign of Alexander the Great, about 3;50 B. C, a party of Greeks had crossed 
the Atlantic. Why the arms should have been deposited in this vault we do 
not know ; it may have been that one of their number, Ptolemais, possibly their 
leader, died; it may be that they found it impossible to carry out the cus- 
toms of their nation, and reduce the body to ashes; and hence entombed it 



2S 



A\li;i;i( A liKl'OKK COI.LMHUS. 



ill this vault, with tlie arms wliidi tlicir leader had used during his iJfeliaie. 
More than Iwo liiousaud years liad passed before it was opened; and in that 
time every trace of the body and its softer clothing had been destroyed, leav- 
ing only the imperishable metals. 




A I'l.KET OK Uo.MAN (J.VLLEV^ 



'I rEKl!AN'B.\N'. 



These are the stories of ancient times in r(>L'ard to America. It will be no- 
ticed that while there are accounts of men wlio reached the western shores of 
the Atlantic, it would seem that there are none of whom it is said that they 
returned. Yet the fables of Atlantis shows that at some time the people of 
the eastern continent must have known something of the western. It is a 
curious fact, in this connection, that recent investigations have shown that 
the monuments of ISIc.xico and Central America are surprisingly similar to 
those of Egypt; and there is a still greater degree of similarity between the 
picture-writing of these two far-distant i)arts of the world. How much of 
the civilization of Mexico and Peru, which has long been the wonder of white 
men, came originally from Egypt, the mother of the arts and sciences known 
to Europe? 

At the very bcginiiiim <'t the Middle Ages, we find a claim of another dis- 
covery of America; but this time from l!ie other coast. In ITtU, Deguignes, 



AJIKKICA I'.KIOKI': COLUMBUS. 29 

a French seliohu- whose iiaiiu- is now lUniost unknown, announced to the 
world that the Chinese discoNcrcd America in the tiftli century', A. D. lie 
derived this information from the official annals of the Chinese Empire, to 
which, he claimed, he had gained access. lie tells us that he found that in 
the year 499 A. D., a Chinese Buddhist priest returned to Singan, the cajjital 
of China, from Tahan, or Khamschatka, saying that he had been to a coun- 
try twenty thousand li, or about seven thousand miles, beyond Tahan. It is 
supposed by Deguignes from this statement of the distance, that lie haiL 
crossed Behring's Strait and journeyed southward to California, or jx'rhaps^ 
as far as Mexico. The explorer called this country Fusang, from the fact 
that the maguey, or American aloe, so plentiful in that part of North Amer- 
ica, resembles the plant M'hich the Chinese call fusang. 

Before considering at more length the stories of those navigators who are 
said to have preceded Columbus in the discovery of America, let us see what 
difficulties were in the way. In the first place, the vessels which served for 
coasting voyages were, in very many cases, small and ill-fitted for buffeting 
with the storms of the Atlantic. We shall see hereafter, however, that an 
experienced sailor did not consider certain ships as unfitted for his purpose 
because they were smaller than many of his day; and, perhaps, in comparing 
the ships of the two periods, we are apt to place too much stress on the fact 
that the vessels of to-day are large, and conclude that because of their size 
they are safer. Possibly the small craft in which the early navigators cross- 
ed the Atlantic were far safer and more manageable than larger vessels would 
have been, without the aid of steam to speed them on their way. 

A far greater difficulty lay in the ignorance of the sailors. Do we realize 
what it means to have no newspapers, no books except costly manuscripts, 
no schools excejit for those of high rank or who intended to enter the priest- 
hood? Can a modern sailor imagine what it would be to drift upon an un- 
known sea, without chart or compass? Yet that is what these early seamen 
did, when they ventured far to the west, in search of land of whose very ex- 
istence they were not sure. 

The mariner's compass was not known in. Europe until about the twelfth 
century; although it had been in use much earlier than this in China. A 
learned Florentine, who visited England in 1258, wrote home a letter describ- 
ing one wonderful thing which he had seen. He had been to the great Univer- 
sity of Oxford, which had had a European renown for hundreds of years 
even then, and had been admitted to the study of Friar Roger Bacon, a man 
so wise that most persons thought he must have sold himself to the devil to 
learn all that he knew. One of the wonderful things which he saw was the 
power which a piece of magnetic iron ore possessed over iron and steel ; and 
the great friar, putting a long, slender bit of such ore on a piece of light 
wood, and letting it float on some water, showed the astonished traveler how 



30 AMKKICA BKl'()i;i'. (OI.I.MHI S. 

constantly one end of tlin rude needle pointed to the Xortii Stiir. It was too 
strange a jjower to ho wholly I'ight, thought tlie people of tliat time; it eoulil 
only be by Satanic direction that such i)Owers could be given to a bit of 
senseless iron; how could a piece of metal know more than a Christian? 
And good, devout Catholics, in stormy weather, were often puzzled to know 
in what direction to look for the North Star. So the sailors refused to go 
in any vessel whose master was known to carry this magical contrivance; and 
it was only when they found that exorcisms and blessings and signs of the 
cross did not take away this power of the magnet, tiiat they began tri believe 
it did not come from the devil after all. This foolisii prejudice against the 
mariner's compass once removed, a great difficulty in the way of oceanic ex- 
ploration was smoothed away. 

If we may believe the claims of several nations, iiowever, America was dis- 
covered more than once before the nuiriners compass was in use among 
European sailors. There are some claims that the Irish, at a periotl which is 
not tixed, had sailed westward and reached the farther shores of the Atlan- 
tic; and the people of the northern part of Europe told of a country which 
they called CJreat Ireland, in very much the same way as the peo})le of the 
soutiiern part, at a little earlier day, told of Atlantis. It must be reuiember- 
ed in reading of this Irish voyage, that in very early times Ireland was a 
much more highly civilized country than England. The schools of Ireland 
w"ere famous throughout Europe, Ijcfore those of Oxfoi-d and Cambridge an<l 
Paris were di-eamcd of, and while the wolves yet howled arouud the sites of 
Heidelberg and Leipsic. Such a nation, then, would have many men who 
knew the story of Atlantis; it might be told to some adventurous sailors, 
who would employ all the arts of the then civilized world in fitting out a 
vessel to voyage thither; and who might possibly accomplish the jouiney and 
return in safety. 

The next account which we shall notice is the .story told by the Welsh 
bards, that in the twelfth century America was discovered by some of their 
countrymen. The bards, or poets, were the historians of AVales, before, in 
the fourteenth century, it was conquered by the king of England and made 
a part of his dominions; in their songs we find all that can be known of the 
history of Wales; and this is not contradicted by the written history of other 
nations, in those particular instances where they tell of the same event. 

According to them, the death of a king named Owen brought about great 
dissensions among his sons, who each desired the kingdom for himself, ex- 
cepting Madoc, who seems to have been a lover of peace. While the other 
brothers were fighting to decide this question, Madoc sailed aw.-iy to the west- 
ward in search of a country where there was no war. Leaving Ireland to the 
north, he continued his course until he reached a beautiful and fertile coun- 
try, supposed, by those who fully accept the account, to have been the coast 



AMERICA BEFORE COLUMBUS. 



:u 



of the .southern portion of tlic United States. But he was not content to 
enjoy this new-found paradise with the few who had come with hiin; he 
wished to share it with all who loved peace. He accordingly returned to 
Wales, and spread the story of his discovery far and wide. Three hundred 
answered his call, and with ten ships he sailed away again to the western 
land, but, sad to say, M'as never heard of more. 

In 1740, there appeared in the Genlleman's Magazine, an English period- 
ical of high standing, a letter dated more than fifty years before, narrating 
how the writer, a Welsh clergyman and a graduate of the University of Ox- 
ford, had, in company with some other persons, been captured by some In- 
dians of the Tuscarora tribe, near what is now called Cape Hatteras. This 
occurred about the beginning of the year KiHl . The prisoners were in much 
danger from the Indians, but the reverend gentleman, much to his surprise, 
found that he could make them understand him by speaking in his native 
language, which was substantially the same as their own. By pleading with 
them in Welsh, he succeeded in making friends with them, and he and his 
companions were well treated during the four months that they remained 
witlithe Indians. He adds that he preached to the Indians in Welsh, three 
times a week during this period. To this communication the name of the 
Rev. Morgan Jones is signed. 

This testimony alone would be of little weight; for it was written twenty- 
five years after the occurrence, and published fifty-five years after it was 
written. Others, however, have told of the Indians who speak Welsh; and 
more than one Welshman, who knew no language except that and English, 
is said to have been able to talk to the Indians, and understand them, 
although they knew no language but their own. Mr. Jones describes the In- 
dians into whose hands he fell as being so light in color that he first took 
tliem for white men; and it is true that the Tuscaroras, who were the sixth 
of the famous Six Nations, were frequently called white Indians. 

it is said, also, that the Conestogas showed especial hatred to such whites 
as were of a fair complexion; and a red-haired, blue-eyed person, would be 
more cruelly treated by them than one with dark hair and eyes. An enthu- 
siastic Welshman declares that this was because their remote ancestors had 
had hard battles with IMadoc and his followers, and they instinctively recog- 
nized persons of fair hair as bitter enemies. 

How much of the story of Madoc is true, we do not know, but it seems to 
fit in with what the Mexicans told the Spaniards: that they had been taught 
many things by white strangers from the east, who had gone back across the 
Atlantic, promising to return. If this were Madoc and his companions, it 
seems that they never reached America after leaving Wales the second time, 
but were lost to both continents. If, on the other hand, the ancestoi's of the 
Tuscaroras were Welshmen, Madoc's ten ships reached their destination, but 



;;2 



A.MKRICA lli;i()KK ( UM MIUS. 



tlioso whicli tried to return were lost. One thing is certain: Madoe and Ins 
liandful of men could not have civilized Mexico and settled >i'ortli Carolina. 
Ono claim or the other niu.st be fjiven up. 




"We come now to tiic account of tlic discovery of America l>v na^ iirators 
from another counti-y, whoso claims to having actually readied the shores of 
the western continent are clearer and better proved than any of those who 
wont before them. The discoveries of the Norsemen are recorded in their 
.•<agas; and being written history, these accounts desen-c more credit than 



\ 



AMERICA BEFORE COLUMBUS. 33 

any mere traditions. The only question is, what land was actually reached ; 
was it a portion of the New England coast, or was it nearer the coast of 
Greenland? 

From the Saga of Erik the Red we condense and modernize the following 
account : — 

Thorvald and his sou Ei'ik removed from the southwestern coast of Nor- 
way to Iceland, in consequence of murder, after several colonies had been 
established in that island. Thorvald died there, and Erik married. Moving 
noi'thward from where he first settled, Erik's name of " The Ked " seems to 
have been merited by new deeds of violence; for shortly after the birth of 
his son Leif he was compelled to remove again, this time to the westward. 
Disputes between him and his new neighbors ai'ose, as a result of which he 
was declared an outlaw. Gunnbjorn, a countryman of Erik's, had sailed to 
the westward and brought back word that there was land there; it is sup- 
posed that this land was Gunnbjarnasker, now concealed, or rendered inac- 
cessible, by the descent of Arctic ice. Erik said he would come back to his 
friend if he found the land, says the old chronicle; and it would appear from 
this that he was desperate; if he did not find land, he would perish in the 
waste of waters. He reached Greenland, seen then by European eyes for the 
first time, and touched at a point which he named Midjokul; the term jokid 
being applied to a mountain covered with snow. 

Reaching Greenland in the spring or summer, he remained there for two 
wintei's. The third summer he went to Iceland, and anchored his ship near 
the point from which he had sailed. He called the land which he had found 
Greenland, because, said he, "People will be attracted thither, if the land 
has a good name." 

Remaining in Iceland all winter, probably to get recruits for his new en- 
terprise, he sailed back to Greenland the next summer, with a fleet of thirty- 
five vessels; but of these only fourteen reached their destination; some were 
lost, and the others driven back. 

The saga places this settlement fifteen winters before Christianity was 
established by law in Iceland, or 98.5 A. D. ; Iceland having been settled 
874 A. D. ' 

One of the settlers who accompanied Erik was namec^ Ilerjulf. His son. 
Bjarni, was a bold and daring sailor, who possessed his own ship while still a 
very young man. It was his custom to spend every second winter with hi.- 
father, the remainder of the time being given to the sea. Accordingly, he 
set sail from Norway in the summer time, and arrived in Iceland only to find 
that his father had moved to Greenland. 

These tidings, the old chronicler says, appeared serious to Bjarni, and he 
was unwilling to unload his ship. Then his seamen asked him what he would 
do: heansweredth.it ho intended to continue his custom, and spend the 



M AMKRIfA HKIOKK COI.IMIU'S. 

wiiiliTwitli liis fiitluT; iind asked tlicni if they wouhl iu eonipaii> liiin to 
(Jreculand. They assented to this, though none of them had been in tlie 
" CireenUmd Ocean." Putting to sea, they had fair weather for three days; 
hut after that, fogs arose, and continued many days. Finally, they saw land. 
They wore doubtful, however, if this was Greenland ; and sailed closer before 
they could determine. Seeing that it was without mountains, but covered 
with wood, they decided that it could not l>c the country which they were 
seeking, and leaving it on the larboard side, sailed two days before they again 
saw land, 'i'his, again, did not answer the description, being a flat land cov- 
ered with wood. 

The sailors, howev«'r, were tired of seeking a land the location of wliich 
they did not know, and wished to go ashore here; pretending, when Bjarni 
objected, that they were in need of wood and water. lie stoutly refused to 
permit it, however, and at last they unwillingly turned the prow from the 
land. Sailing three days with a south-west wind, they saw another land, 
covered with mountains and ice-hills; but this did not appear inviting to 
Bjarni, and he forbade the sails to Ix- lowered. iVs they kept on their course, 
they saw that this was an island. 

Once more putting out to sea, they sailed four days, when they saw the 
fourth land. It seemed to Bjarni that this answered the description of 
(Jreenland, and putting about for shore, they chanced to land just at the 
point where Bjarni's father, Ilerjulf, had settled. 

AVhat were the three lands that he saw? If we carefully trace his course 
on the map, remembering that the Norsemen reckoned a day's sail at about 
thirty geographical miles, and keeping in mind what is said of the direction 
of the wind, we can but come to the conclusion that the tirst land seen was 
Connecticut or Long Island, while the great island was doubtless Newfound- 
land; the second land was some i)oint between the two. 

This is the lirst written record which we have of the discovery of the 
mainland of America. The voyage was made at some time in the late sum- 
mer or autumn of its.'); hut, as we lia\e seen, the Eurojieans did not attempt 
to land. 

Bjarni went back to Norway, where he boasted of his iliscovery; but the 
fact that he had refused to land became somewhat a matter of reproach 
to him. His experiences, however, caused much talk about voyages of dis- 
covery, and Leif, the son of thsit (juarrelsome Erik the Red, who had first 
settled Greenland, sailed away to the south-west with thirty-tive men. 

One of these is called in the saga a Southern; he was i)robably a Geruum. 
But we will (piote the simple old story itself: — 

"Now prepared they their ship, and sailed out into the sea when they 
were ready, and then found that land first which Bjarni had found last. 
There sailed they to the land, and cast anchor, and put off boats, and went 



AMKKICA BKFOKK C'oLr.MlUS 



3.5 



ashore, and found there no grass. * * * Then said Loif: -WeliuNc 

not done like Bjarni about this land, that we have not been up<Hi it : now will 
I give the land a name, and call it Helluland.' 

"Then went they on board, and after that sailed out to sea, and found 
another land; they sailed again to the land, and cast anchor, then put off 
boats and went on shore. This land was flat, and covered with wood, and 
white sands were far around where they went, and the shore was low." 

The country was accordingly named Markland, which means woodland in 
the Norse tongue. Returning to the ship, they sailed again into the open 
sea before a north-east wind. Two days later, they came to an island, suj^- 
posed, from the distance and direction, to have been Nantucket ; thence their 
course lay along the coast until they _=, _^=- .^s^ 

reached 'Sit. Hope Bay. They noted =~ ^ 

that on the shortest day in winter — ^^ 
for they remained here all winter — 
the day was nine hours long; the sun 
rising at half-past seven and setting at 
half-past four. This circumstance 
confirms the conclusion drawn from 
the direction and length of their course 
over the seas; for the time of sunrise 
and sunset varies with the latitude; 
and the times given by them corres- 
pond with the actual length of the day 
at this point. 

Having determined to settle at this 
point, they " built there large houses." 
Was one of these buildings that 
Round Tower at Newport, the origin 
of which has been so much debated? 
Leif divided his party, sending half 
out upon journeys to explore the land, 
while the others remained at home. 
They did not go far, it being understood that they were always to be back at 
night-fall. Leif himself sometimes accompanied these expeditions; some- 
times stayed at home. 

" It happened one evening that a man of the party was missing, and this 
was Tyrker the German. This took Leif much to heart, for Tyrker had been 
long with his father and him, and loved Lief much in his childhood. Lief 
now took his people severely to task, and prepared to seek for Tyrker, and 
took twelve men with him. But when they had gotten a short way from the 
house, then came Tyrker toward them, and was joyfully received. Leif soon 




Round Tower at Newpoet, Eiiodk Island. 



se 



AMKUICA liLlOKI. COI-rAllUS. 



saw that his foster-father was not iu his right souses. Tyrkoi- had a high 
forehead, and unsteady eyes, was freckled in the face, small and mean in 
stature, but excellent in all kinds of artifice. Then said Lcif to him: — 
" ' Why wert thou so laic, my fosterer, and separated from the party?' 




Lkif axt> His Men Fixd Tvrkkr. 

" Tyrkcr now spoke first, for a long time, in (lermau, and rolled his eyes 
about to different sides, and twisted his mouth, l)nt they did not undt'rsland 
what he said. After a time he si)oko Norse : - 

" ' I have not been nmeh further off, but still I have something new to tell 
of; I found wine-wood and wine-berries.' 



AMKHICA HKIOKIC Ci >I.U.'MB1IS. •)( 

" 'But is that true, my fosterer?" stiid Leif. 

" ' Surely is it true,' replied he, ' for I was bred up iu a land where there 
is no want either of wine-wood or wine-berries.' 

"They slept now for the night, but iu the morning, Leif said to his sailors : 

" ' We will now set about two things, in that the one day we gather grapes, 
and the other day cut vines and fell trees, so from thence will be a loading i 
for my shij).' 

" And that was the counsel taken, and it is said their long boat was filled 
with grapes. Now was a cargo cut down for the ship, and when the spring 
came, they got ready and sailed away, and Lief gave the land a name after i 
its qualities, and called it Vinland." 

The next voyage was made by Thorvald, the younger brother of Leif. 
These voyagers made for the point where Leif and his companions had spent 
the winter, but were less fortunate than they had been. Leaving these houses 
behind them, they started upon a further journey of discovery; and here we 
find the story of the first encounter between Indians and Europeans. Hav- 
ing landed, Thorvald and his men saw three skin-boats drawn up on the 
sand; they approached them, and found that there were three men under 
each. Dividing, they surrounded the ^natives, and attacked them. One es- 
caped; eight were captured and put to death. Thus early did the wanton 
war upon the Indians begin. 

But the red man who had escaped had carried the tidings to his tribe; and 
that night, while Thorvald and his men were sleeping as peacefully as if they 
had not murdered their prisoners, were alarmed by the M'ar-cry of the sav- 
ages. They were repulsed, but one of the white men being wounded. That 
one was Thorvald; and the wound was evidently with a poisoned arrow, for 
he died, and was buried at the cape where he thought it best to dwell. 

The next voyage was made by a third brother, Thorstein, who took his wife 
Gudrid with him. He died shortly after they returned to Greenland, and 
(rudrid married Thorfinn, an able seaman and merchant. Thorfinn fitted out 
a vessel to explore Vinland, and again Gudrid went with her husband to the 
new country. 

Here a son was born to them, whom they named Snorre — the first child of 
European parentage born on the western continent. Thorwaldsen, the gi-eat 
sculptor, and many other eminent Norwegians, claimed descent from Snorre 
Thorfinnson, born in America iu 1007 A. D. 

Thorfinn and his party met the natives several times, but did not fight 
them, as the early explorers had done. They traded peaceably with them 
for awhile — cheating the Indians, of course — and thought there was no dan- 
ger from them. But the roaring of a bull which the strangers brought with them 
so frightened the natives that they fled at their utmost speed, and were not 
seen again for three weeks. Then they returned in force, attacking the 



:^x 



AMKUKA ISKKOItl'. COl.lMUrS. 



strauger.s, who were glad to witlidraw to tlic houses which they had built. 
Tlie Indians were repulsed, but the whites judged it wisest to leave a land 
where there was such danger from the natives. It must be remembered that 
these early Norsemen did not have the advantage of firearms, as those who 
came in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries had. The Indians had 
knives and a.xes of stoue; the Norsemen had weapons of iron, and this was 
the sole advantage which they possessed. Hopelessly outnumbered, there 
was nothing for them to do but withdraw. 

According to some authorities, one hundred of them refused to follow 
their leader back to Greenland, but remained in the new country, the land 
of corn and wine, as it truly .seemed to these children of the frozen North. 
It is not certain, however, but what all of them went back to (jieenland. 

There were some minor voyages after this time; but during the century to 
which we have now come, a terrible jjlague swept over Norway, and so de- 
creased the population that there was no need for the people to seek new 
homes beyond the sea. Perhai)s the traditions of the terrible natives had 
something to do with this; or perhaps their energies were turned in other di- 
rections. Certainly, the voyages of the Norsemen to the coast of North 
America had ceased long before the time of ("oluml)us: and the reconls were 
stored away, to be brought to light again nearly a thousand years after the 
first of such journeys was made. 

We have already alluded to the Rounu Tower at Newport, which is sup- 
posed ])y many to be the work of the Norsemen; 
anti(juarians claiming that it resembles certain 
structures in the Old World, which are known 
to have been built by this people. Another cu- 
rious relic is found in what is called The Digli- 
ton Hock, which is situated about six and a half 
miles from Taunton, Massachusetts. This rock, 
which is about eleven and a half feet long at the 
base, and about five feet high, is covereil on one 
face with an inscription, which Norsemen claim 
is written in the Runic characters which their 
ancestors used. The name of Thorfinn and the 
number of his followers are about the only points which they have been able 
to make out. It is right to state here that their claim of its Norse origin is 
not undisputed. Schoolcraft, the best authority upon all matters relating 
to the American Indian, says it is an Indian picture-writing, and can be 
readily read by any one accjuainted with their mode of expression. 

^lany Americans are ac(iuainted with Longfellow's i)oem of " The Skeleton 
in Armor." This skeleton was dug up in the vicinity of Fall Kiver; was it 
thebodv of Thorvald? We have no means of knowing. 




The Skki.kton in Ah.mor. 



AMERICA BKIOKK COLl .MBUS. 3!) 



of llu; early ili.scovery of \ 
tural. Evt'ii those heroes V 



It imist 1)0 remembered that, in all these stories 
Aiuorica there is much that is uncertain and conjectur! 
whose adventures are recorded in the sagas, have had their claims contested; 
for they knew so little of geography that they could not clearly describe the po- 
sition of the lands which they discovered. The difference between the] 
earlier and the later discoverers may be stated thus: Those persons who 
reached the shores of America before the middle of the fifteenth century, 
were wild adventurers, knowing nothing of any means of preserving the 
ri'cord of their exploits but the wild songs of their native minstrels; Colum- 
bus and many of his successors were men of science, capable of observing' 
and recording points which nuide j)atent to the world the facts of their; 
achievements. ) 

Thus ends the story of those who claimed to have discovered the western 
world before Columbus set out on his memorable voyage. We shall see, when 
we come to tell of his struggles to obtain recognition, M'hether he knew any- 
thing of what others had done before him by crossing the great Atlantico 



./ '';);„;;L,i ;;, 




CHAPTER 11. 

COLUMBUy LIFE BEFORE THE DISCON'EKY OF AMERICA. 

Date and Place of His Birth — A Poor Man's Son — Education — Geographical Knowledge 
of the Time — Ideas of India — Marco Polo — A Splendid Banquet — The Scofters Rebuked — 
"Lord Millions" — The Story of His Travels — The Grand Khan— Cipango — Imprisoned at 
Genoa— Influence on Youths of Genoa — Columbus Sees Service — Deceiving a Mutinous Crew 
— Prince Henry of Portugal— Columbus at Lisbon — Marriage — An Honored Profession — 
Friends — Evidence of a World Beyond the Waters — Growth of His Great Idea — Toscanelli 
Consulted — Religious Character of Columbus — Application to Genoa — To Venice — Voyage 
to Iceland — Application to Portugal — A Scurvy Trick — Condition of European Countries — A 
Friend at Last — Disappointment — A Sketch of Spanish History — The War Against the Moors 
— Effect upon the Project of Columbus — Friends at Court — Received by King Ferdinand — 
The Great Council of Salamanca^The Folly of the Wise — The Arguments of Columbus — 
Delayed Decision — -A Wandering Court — Invitation to Portugal — Letter from England — The 
Council's Decision — Columbus Sets out for France — At the Convent Gate — Friends at Palos — 
Appeal to the (.iueen — Demands of Columbus Rejected — A Courageous Courtier — Columbus 
Hecalled — Isabella's Independence — Articles of Agreement. 

"AVING now renewed briefly tlie clainLs of those nations whicii are 
said to have discovered America before it was reached by the Geno- 
ese sailor with his Spanish followers, let us learn what we can of the 
early years of the great discoverer — not only of his birth, childhood and edu- 
cation, but of the weary wanderings from place to place, the long years of 
labor and waiting, before he found friends with minds sulHciently large, and 
purses sufficiently filled, to assist him in this great undertaking. 

He was the son of a wool-comber of Genoa, and the oldest of four chil- 
dren. Nothing is known of his sister, except that she married an obscure 
man named Savarello ; of his brothers, Bartlioloniew, and Diego or James, 
we shall hear more, particularly of the first-named. 

After Columbus grew famous, there were many efforts nuide to claim him 
as native of other places than Genoa ; as it was said of the great Greek poet, 

"Seven Grecian, cities strove for Homer dead, 
Through which the living' Homer begged bis bread." 

Had these places been as anxious to assist the struggling genius as they were 
to borrow some of his glory, there would be much less to tell about disap- 
pointments and long weary waiting. The claims of Genoa are proved by 
the wording of the will of Columbus himself: " I was born there, and came 
from thence." 

{41j 



42 (in.r.Mius" 1,11 i: hkiokk iiik i)is((>\i;in oi' .\.mi;i;i( a. 

It i-; probahlc tluil, altliough lii.s father was an limnblc Iradesinau or nie- 
tliaiiic, the family had hocn one of some importaiKc. (ieiioa was a niercan- 
tilo city; and a wealthy family, reduced by misfortunes to poverty, would still 
retain friendship among those who were less unfortunate. W'e shall see. as 
we go on, thatColumhus had some such friends; but just how iiiiich tiny did 
for him, and how much he won for himself, we cannot tell. 

This much is certain: lie was a poor man's son, born and brought up in ;i 
city the people of which derived their daily bread from trading. Look at the 
map of Italy, and remember that in those days there were not only no rail- 
roads, but no other roads that were safe and well kept; and you will readily 
see what part the sea played in the life of every Genoese. The great salt- 
water highway was the only one for their commerce; and every Genoese boy 
learned something of seamanship as naturally as a duck learns to swim. 

His book education was supposed to be completed at the age of fourteen, 
lie had then ac([uired a knowledge of the rudiments, reading, writing and 
arithmetic; he knew something of Latin, no hard study for an Italian, and 
had learned to draw. Some time had also been spent at the University of 
Pavia, where he studied geograjihy, geometry, astronomy and navigation. 

When we remember what parts of the earth have been discovered and ex- 
l)lored since the middle of the fifteenth century, it does not .seem that there 
would be much geography for the boy Columbus to stutly. And there was not. 
Even the eastern continent was largely unknown to the geographers of that 
time. With the coast of Europe, from the northern point of p]urope to the 
Strait of Gibraltar, and thence along the Mediterranean, they were thorough- 
ly well acquainted; of Africa, they knew only the northern coast and a small 
part of the western, as far south as Cape Hojador, a name which means "The 
Outstretcher;" and of Asia they knew the Mediterranean coast, apart of the 
southern coast, and thought that they had reliable accounts of the jiart far- 
ther to the east. 

They were sure that the world was round, but thought it much smaller than 
it has since been proved to be. They reckoned that the known portions of 
the world covered about two hundred and twenty-five tlegrees of longitude, 
or about twice as great a })roportion as modern geographers allow for it. 

The world, or rather the land of the world, was wholly surrounded by tlie 
"Ocean Stream," beyond which lay, they thought, the path to the other 
world. The great salt sea to the south of Asia was probably no part of this, 
but was surrounded by land, the eastern coast of Africa turning to the east, 
and joining the south-eastern extremity of Asia; but opinions on this point 
varied, for some believed the Indian Sea, as it was called, to be a part of the 
ocean; and stoutly maintained that it would bo possible to reach India by 
sailing around Africa. As to investigating the boundaries of the ocean, that 
woulil be tlie ait of a madman; for countless dreadful and unknown dan- 



COLUMBUS LIFK BEFORK THK DISCOVERV OF AMERICA. 



43 



gers nuLst be faced, besides the absolute certainty that no one would ever be 
able to return. The earth is round, these wise men argued; and if one were 
to sail down from the summit, where we live, he would never be able to sail 
his ship up-hill, to reach home again. 




Sea Bishop and M?:umaios. 

Besides, in and a])out that sea, in the dim light of fading day, crawled, 
seethed, fluttered and swam all the monsters that terror could conjure up. 
The enormous nautilus, able with one stroke of its live oars to capsize a 
ship; the sea-serpent, fifty leagues long, with a comb like a cock's; the sy- 
rens of Homer, ceaselessly pursued by the cruel sea-monk, whi(-h was still be- 
lieved in as late as 1^>2(); and, finally, the dreadful bishop of the sea, with 
his phosphorescent mitre. Plarpics and wingetl chimeras skimmed this mo- 




I'lii. I'li.wTOMs or Fkah, 



COLUMBUS' LIFE BEFORE THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. 45 

tionless sea iu pursuit of their prey; there were sea-elcphauts, lions, tigers 
and hippocampi, who grazed in vast fields of sea-weeds from which no ship 
could ever hope to extricate herself. 

Out of this chaotic sea arose a colossal hairy hand armed with claws — the 
hand of Satan, La Main Noire; its existence could not be doubted — it was 
pictured on all the maps of the time. 

From the bottom of the abyss there appeared also, from time to time, at 
regular intervals, the back of the kraken, like a new island, some said twice, 
others three times, as large as Sicily. This huge polypus, who, with one of 
its suckers — and it had as many as the cuttle-fish — could arrest a ship in full 
sail, was in the habit of rising to the surface every day. From its vent-holes 
issued two water-spouts six times as high as the Giralda of Seville. When 
it had squirted out the water, it would draw in a coi'responding supply of air, 
thereby creating a whirlwind in which a ship would have spun like a top. 

The kraken was not an evil-disposed monster; but it could not be denied 
that its enormous dimensions rendered it, to say the least, an unpleasant 
object. And even without the kraken, and supposing that the Black Hand 
of Satan did not dare to descend on a fleet whose royal ensign bore the im- 
age of Christ crucified, which had the ever-blessed Virgin for its patroness, 
how were they to escape from the two-headed eagle with its enormous wings, 
or from the formidable roc, which had seized and carried off in its talons, 
before the Arab traveler's eyes, a vessel equipped with a hundred and fifty 
men ? 

These were some of the things which the boy Columbus learned at the 
great and famous University of Padua; when he became a pupil in the Uni- 
versity of Hard Knocks, he acquired information that was cjuite different. 

But why was India considered of so much importance? For, we have 
seen that it was debated whether or not it would be possible to reach India 
by sea; and although we have not yet reached that point in telling the life of 
Columbus, there is not a reader of these pages but knows beforehand that 
he expected to reach India by sailing westward. 

For a long time the regions of the far east had been considered the home 
of luxury of every kind. Perhaps the stuffs which merchants brought from 
there had something to do with this belief; perhaps it was only because peo- 
ple wanted to tell themselves some kind of a marvelous story, and imagined 
these things. Some of these stories had come down from ancient times; 
others had been told by the Arabs and Moors, who had settled in Spain, and 
with whom there was more or less intercourse. What we know as European 
Turkey was not in the hands of the Turks when Columbus was a school- 
boy, if we accept 1435 as the date of his birth; so that nothing could have 
come from them. 

There were not wanting travelers' tales, to excite the popular curiosity re- 



4t> <or.i .Miu>" i.irK. iikiokk the mscovKRV or ami.kka. 

jrarding till' oast. In tin- year 12il.') there ai-rivod at ^'(•ni{■c three men, very 
bhabhily dressed in travel-stained garments. The ehh'st of these dechircd 
thatliis name was Nieholas Polo, and that his eompanions were his brt)ther 
Maffeo and his son Marco. But the relatives of the Polos, who had started 
upon a eommereial voyage to the cast some fort 3* years before, refused to 
recognize or invite these shabby strangers to their magnificent houses, for 
they were all rich and aristocratic. The Polos, however, managed to obtain 
[jossession of their own dwelling, and then invited all the proud relations to 
a banquet. Perhajis it was out of curiosity that all went; such curiosity 
was most abundantly gratified. 

The three hosts, whose worn and travel-stained garments had so offended 
the ideas of the diiinty Venetians, ha<l been exchanged for rich robes of 
crimson satin, such as the nobles were in the habit of wearing upon state oc- 
casions. When, however, the guests liad been received, these costly clothes 
were cut up and distributed among the servants, while the masters reappear- 
ed, robed in still rit:iicr costumes of crimson damask. These shared the fate 
of the other dresses, and the Polos arrayed themselves in crimson velvet. 
When the feast was over, they bade the servants bring in those rolies in 
which they had returned to A'enice; and ripping the seams, showed the a.s- 
tonishcd guests that these des[)ised garments contained, thus hidden, jewels 
ent)ugh to have purchased the whole cit.y of Venice. 

Marco Polo, the youngest of the three, seems to have come in contact with 
the people much more than his father or uncle; and he told them, day af- 
ter day, such stori(?s of the magnificence of the princes whom they bad vis- 
ited, always reckoning the income of each potentate as so many millions, 
that an irreverent ^Vmerican would have dubbed him "Old Millions;"' the 
Venetians, more polite in their nicknaming, styled him »S'r/- ^filionc — •* Lord 
Millions." 

So great an influence did these stories have upon Columbus, that we must 
here pause and learn what parts of the earth were visited by these three 
travelers. We have seen that they left Venice about 1255, bound on a com- 
mercial journey to the east. At Constantinopte, they sold the Italian goods 
Avhich they had carried from home, and bought jewels with the jjroceeds. 
With these they set out to trade with the Tartars, who had then overrun many 
parts of Asia and P^urope, and were building cities on the Volga. Here thej' 
were fortunate enough to meet with a Tart;ir prince who was extremely hon- 
est; they trusted him WMth their wealth; and in return for this trust were 
loaded with favors during the year they remained at his court. 

But war broke out between him and his neighbors; and the strangers 
found that they could not get home. They accordingly, after three years 
spent at Bokhara, joined an embassy which was going to the court of the 
Grand Khan, or King of Kings, the sovereign of all the Tartars. 



roI.IIMBUS I.IKK HKKOK 



DISCON'KKY OK AMEKICA. 



This was situated at a oily \vliieh I'olo called Cambalu, since identified as 
Pekin. It was the capital of Cathay, of which wonderful stones had been 
told for many years ; but the account which Marco Polo gave of its riches 
was still more wonderful. 




Marco Polo at tiik Coi'rt oi'" Kublai Kuan. 

To the cast of this rich country lay an island, the name of which is vari- 
ously spelled by different writers ; we shall use the form Cipango, since in 
that shape the name frequently occurs in the writings of Columbus. The 
palace of the king of Cipango, the traveler asserted, was covered, not with 
sheets of lead or copper, as was the custom in Europe, but with sheets of 



COLU.MUl >■ LU-K BEFOKE THE UlSCUN KKV OF AMERICA. 49 

gold ; and the golden plates used for its inside adornment were, in some cases, 
two inches thick. The island also produces pearls of fabulous size in large 
quantities, as well as great numbers of precious stones. It is so rich, he 
added, that even the mighty Khan, a prince far richer than any in Europe, 
had tried many times to conquer it, but had failed to do so, since the inhabi- 
tants had a secret by which they were enabled to make themselves secure; 
against any kind of wound. 

The sea between Cathay aiul Cipango is studded with seven thousand four 
hundred and forty small islands, all of which produce perfumes and valua- 
ble woods most abundantly. 

The Great Khan, otherwise called Kublai Khan, was much pleased to re- 
ceive these strangers from the distant west. He prepared a feast for them, 
and asked, with much eagerness, for any information that they could give 
him of what was happening in Europe, requiring details of the government, 
of the various kings and emperors and their methods of making war. Maf- 
feo and Nicholas fortunately spoke the Tartar language fluently, so they 
could freely answer all the emperor's questions. 

This mighty prince of the East had also shown great interest in the doc- 
trines of Christianity, as taught by the Venetian merchants; and had re- 
quested them to take a message to the Pope, asking him to send at once a 
hundred learned men to instruct the wise men of Cathay in religion. All 
these statements were proved by the golden tablets with which the Khan 
had furnished them as passports, and by the magnificent jewels which they 
showed as his gifts to them. 

How much of these stories was true? The contemporaries of the Polos 
regarded them as grossly exaggerated; neither friends nor foes believed the 
half Mas true. It is said that when Marco Polo was on his death-bed, some of 
his friends, distressed at the idea of his dying with all these falsehoods on 
his soul, exhorted him to retract what he had published; or, at least, to dis- 
avow such parts as were fictitious. The dying man raised himself and 
glared fiercely at them, as he replied that it was all true; only, he had not 
told half of the wonders that he saw. 

So nmch for the ti-avels of Marco Polo. How did they affect Columbus? 
Venice and Genoa are now close neighbors, cities of the same kingdom, their 
language and their laws alike. It was different then; the few miles between 
them were multiplied by the dangers and difficulties of the way; they were 
under distinct governments, and occasionally at war with each other; how 
could the Genoese boy be influenced by the accounts given, a hundred and 
fifty years before, by the Venetian traveler? 

It came about in this way. Shortly after the return of the wanderers, a 
Genoese fleet threatened part of the Venetian territory; it was necessary for 
Venice to defend herself. Of the fleet which was sent to oppose the enemy, 
•1 



."id coi.lMlils' l.ll T. llKloltK llli; I)1S(<I\KKV Or A \1 F.ltlCA. 

ouo galloy \v:is coiiiiiiMinlfil liy Mann Poln. Ailvaiiciutr, tlio first vessel of 
the line, upon tlu- iMU'ni.v, he was soon liotiy engaged in battle. For some 
reason, the others did not follow as jjroniptly as they should have done; and 
Marco Polo's single galley was surrounded by the seventy from Genoa. 

Uidy the fate of the coniinander is matter of record; taken prisoner, he 
was thrown in irons, and eairied to (lenoa. Here he was detained a long 
time in prison, his captors refusing to accept any ransom. His prison was. 
crowded daily with representatives of the nobility of the city, who came to 
hear the stories with which he had astonished Venice. At length, one of 
them prevailed upon him to write down the account of his travels. He 
consented; and sending to Venice for his papers antl journals, produced the 
wonderful record now preserved in literature. In those days, before the 
invention of printing, books were of course costly and rare articles; but the 
stories in this one were of such interest that the student who had access to 
the volume would tell them to his less fortunate companions; they again to 
others; and so on, until all Genoa knew the tale of Marco Polo, and how he 
had liveti, a prisoner of their city, in that very building, and there written 
the story of what he had seen. And then, doubtless, the Genoese would talk 
among themselves of this wonderful Cathay and the island of Cipango,full of 
gold and jewels and rare woods and i)erfumes, and say to each other what a 
pity it was that no one should have made any effort to convert these heath- 
ens, though Kublai Khan had asked for missionaries. Then, perhaps, they 
would talk of Prester John, that wonderful Ciiristian Prince, whose domin- 
ions were nobody knew exactly where, but to whom some messenger ought 
to be sent. Then they would get to talking of the difficulties in the way of 
these duties, and recount the teri-ors by land and by sea which would confront 
the traveler — great winged lions, giant cannilials. and tremendous sea-ser- 
pents. 

Dill all tills talk of far-off countries bear no fruit in (icnoa for a hundred 
and lifty years? There were many (ienoese youths who went from the city, 
bent on seeing far-off lands; but until the days of Columbus there was not 
one who had an idea that India and Cathay and Cipango could be reached 
by sailing to the west. Others were content to follow; and the name of the 
one great leader is the only famous one among them all. 

In regard to the wanderings of the young men of Genoa, a historian of 
that city says that they go with the intention of returning when they shall 
have accjuired the means of living comfortably and honorably in their native 
place; but, ho adds, of twenty who go, scarce two return; either dying 
abroad, or marrying foreign wives and .settling in their country, or finding 
some safer and more comfortable home for their declining age than their na- 
tive city. 

For a few months after his return from Pavia, the boy Columliws worki'il 



rOLt MBIS LIFE BEKOKK THE 1>IS(()VERV OF AMERICA. 



51 



at his father's trade ; but this could not last long. Soon he, too, followed 
(he example of so many of his countrymen, and engaged in a seafaring life. 
His first service was under the command of a relative, a Colombo who ha(i 
for some time past held the rank of an admiral. We cannof tell the de- 
gree of relationship; probably it was very distant; for, as we have seen, the 
father of the discoverer was a poor man, a mechanic. In the iifteenth cen- 
tury, a man who worked was thought very little of; quite below consider- 
ation, in fact; and perhaps the old admiral was not very proud of his poor 
relations. 




Thk Ykaks of Preparation. 



Cruising in the Mediterranean was then no child's play; for there was 
scarcely a part of the sea that was not beset with pirates; petty states were 
constantly at war, and frequently their vessels would seize those whose mas- 



52 rOMMIUs' LIKK BEFORE THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. 

ters were not engaged in war with any one. A merchant vessel liad to carry 
arms, and he ready to use them at very short notice. Columbus, however, 
was not engaged in the merchant service. A French prince, John of Anjou, 
asserted his^ightto the kingdom of Naples, a small state in the south of 
Italy. The republic of Genoa was an ally, and sent ships and men to his 
assistance; the war lasted for about four years, and ended in the defeat of 
John of Anjou and his father, King Keinier of Provence. 

Columbus was assigned to no snudl post in the fleet commanded by his rel- 
ative; boy as he was, he had dangerous work to do. lie tells us of his 
being sent to rescue a galley from the harbor of Tunis. 

" It happened to mc tiiat King Reinier — whom (Jod has taken to himself — 
sent me to Tunis, to capture the galley Fernandina, and when I arrived off 
the island of San Pedro, in Sardinia, I was informed that there were two 
ships and a carrack with the galley; by which intelligence my crew were so 
troubled that they determined to proceed no further, l)ut to return to Mar- 
seilles for another vessel and more people; as I could not by any means 
compel them, I assented apparently to their wishes, altering the point of the 
compass and spreading all sail. It was then evening, and next morning we 
were within the Caj)e of Carthagcna, wliile all were tirmly of opinion that 
they were sailing towai'tis Marseilles." 

What the sailors said when they found out that he had deceived them as 
to the direction in wliich they were sailing by thus altering the point of the 
compass, does not ajipear; nor are we told the result of the cruise into the 
harbor of Tunis; prol)ably the same bold and resolute spirit which had out- 
witted the crew gained a victory over the enemy. We shall see after awhile 
that he again deceived a crew, and again brought the voyage, l)y this de- 
ception, to a successful ending. 

Now and again we tind some traces of Columbus in the history of the time; 
but it is d()ul)tful whether the person meant was the old admiral under whom 
the discoverer sailed as a boy, or a nephew called Colombo el Mozo, the Young- 
er, or the youngest and finally by far the most famous of the three. Prob- 
ably most of the exploits recorded arc to be placed to the ac(?ount of the first 
or the second, for Christopher was not likely to have attracted so uuich at- 
tention in these years. 

It is probable that he was early attracted to the capital of Portugal as a 
suitable place for a man to live who was interested in adventures and ex- 
plorations by sea; for Lisbon was then the starting-point of many great ex- 
peditions. Prince Henry of Portugal was the first prominent person to en- 
gage in the work of carrying forward discovery; and during the first half of 
the fifteenth century, under his direction, Portuguese ships had ventured 
farther and farther along the coast of what is still the Dark Continent. 
Prince Henry diet! in 14fi3; but the work of discovery to which he had given 



COHTMBIS I, IKK UKFOKE THK DISCOVEKV OT AMKRICA. 



53 



strength still went forward; Diaz was seat to find, iii the interior of Africa, 
the king who has already lieeu mentioned, Prester John; he found, instead, 
the Cape of Good Hope. It is worthy of remark, that Bartholomew Colum- 
bus was one of the sailors who ventured on this long voyage. 

There is a story of the manner in which Christopher Columbus first came 
to Lisbon, which may here bo set down. While the story is not without 
foundation, it should be remembered that Columbus was a residepit of Lis- 
bon some time before this; so that he was but returning to a place where he 
\ad lived. 




Diaz on His Way 'lo iiir. Cu'e. 



He was in command of a vessel of the squadron under the leadership of 
Colombo el Mozo. This admiral was really little better than a pirate; and 
having heard that four richly laden galleons were on their way from Fland- 
ers, as the Low Countries were then called, to Venice, he gave orders to his 
captains to lie in wait for them off the coast of Portugal, between Lisbon and 
Cape St. Vincent. There was a desperate battle ; the ships were lashed and 
grappled together; the sailors fought hand to hand, now on the deck of one, 
now of the other. The vessel commanded by Columbus was grappled with 
a huge galley of the Venetian tleet. the crew of which fought with even more 



.')4 COI.I ■:\IIU s I.IIK HKIOUK THK Dl^COVKUV OF AMF.KICA. 

fiiTccno.ss tliim their companions. A favoritf form of warfare in that time 
eonsi.stcd of throwing tiery <Uirts and hand greinuh's; sometimes in throwing 
(iroek lire, a uearl.v inextinguislial)le tiling. Siieh missiles were thrown on 
this occasion; the ships took tire; they were too tirmly grappled together to 
l>c unloosed, and burned to the water's edge, -side by side, Venetian and (ie- 
noese. The crews had but one connnon hope of escape; each man threw 
himself into the sea, grasping whatever wood was within reach. Columlius 
chanced to secure an oar, and although they were fully six miles from shore, 
succeeded in swimming to land. Thence he made his way to Lisbon, where 
he found many of his countrymen living; jjcrhaps he found there his brother 
Hartholoniew, known for his bravery as a navigator since he had accom- 
panied Diaz in that perilous voyage far to the south, when the Cape of 
(rood Hoi)e had been discovered. Certainly he found such a welcome that 
he decided to remain there for some time to come. 

Columbus went to Portugal about the year 1470. Although at this time, 
if we accept the earliest date given for his birth, he was in the very prime of 
life, being liut thirty-tive years old, his hair was as white as that of a very old 
man. In person, he was tall, well-formed and muscular; and he had achieved 
a victory over a naturally (juick temper so completely as to mark his bear- 
ing with a grave and gentle dignity. Throughout his life, he had shown 
great regard for the church, strictly observing the fasts, vigils, and other 
forms of devotion prescribed by her priests; and this (juality seems to have 
had fuller op|)ortunity for development in the peaceful life at the Portu- 
guese capital than among the wild rovers of the sea. 

There is a cei'tain convent in Lisbon, styled the Convent of Ail Saints. 
where young ladies of rank and family were then, as now in similar institu- 
tions, received for instruction in all that a lady is supposed to learn at school. 
In addition to these inmates were some others, who boarded at the convent 
as a safe and proper shelter for women of their age and rank. One was a 
certain DonaFelipa de Perestrello, the daughter of a man who had won re- 
nown and reward as a leader of explorers in the time of Prince Henry; ami 
iiad, indeed, colonized the island of Porto Santo, of which he had held the 
office of governor. Hut this very office was the cause of his ruin. It was 
conferred upon him as a reward for his long-continued services, and seemed 
to be full payment. But the colonists took some rabbits with them to the 
i>land; and the little animals multiplied so rapidly that before long it was 
<ompletely overrun by them. There was no demand for canned meats in 
those days, or knowledge of preparing them; or the unlucky colonists might 
have done as nineteenth century men have done under precisely the same 
circumstances — kilknl the rabbits and exported the canned Hesh. As it was, 
they fought the pests as long as they could; but were tinally compelled to 
give up the contest, smd leave the island to the ravages of the rabbits. 



(■(iMMurs i.iih: iiKi'ouH the uis(o\ekv df a.mi;i;kv. .)•) 

Perestrello returned to Portu^'iil, a ruined man; for all that he had prev- 
iously acquired bad been invested in property in this island. He died, leav- 
ing a widow and three daughters, one of whom, as mentioned above, was a 
boarder in this Convent of All Saints. 

The services in the chapel of this convent were regularly attended by a 
certain Genoese who had recently arrived at Lisbon ; and in some way, we 
cannot tell how, Christopher Columbus became acquainted with the ruined 
governor's daughter. Of this romance of four hundred years ago, we only 
know that it began with a meeting in the convent chapel, and ended with a 
marriage in the same place. 

For a time, the newly-married couple lived with the bride's mother; and 
the husband added to the family income by making maps and charts, and il- 
luminating manuscripts. This work was not regarded then as it is now; then, 
the map-maker was a man of science and an artist combined, and was re- 
spected accordingly. It is recorded that the Venetians struck a medal in hon- 
or of one cosmographer, who had projected a univei'sal map, esteemed the 
most accurate that had ever been made. It is also a matter of history, that 
Americus Vespucius paid a sum equivalent to $555 in our time for a "map 
of sea and land." Thus Columbus engaged in a work which was well-paid, 
and which placed the workman in a position of no small honor. 

Nor was his new life such as to hinder his advancement. His wife's father 
had left numerous notes and charts of his many voyages, and these were 
placed at his disposal, when Madam Perestrello saw that his character and 
skill justitied her in so doing. Then, too, although the Perestrello faniily had 
become reduced to poverty, there were still many influential persons whose 
acquaintance they retained; and by this means the Genoese wanderer re- 
ceived introductions to a higher circle than he could have reached unassisted; 
and was even received by the king himself. Once brought to their notice, 
he had no difticulty in retaining their regard by his own merits. 

In the meantime, a younger daughter of Madam Perestrello had married 
Don Pedro Correa; and he had been appointed governor of Porto Santo. 
De Belloy says that he inherited this government from his father-in-law; but 
why the younger sister's husband should be the heir, does not appear; prob- 
ably his own influence was suflicient to procure the appointment, if the Percs- 
trellos were not against it. The two sons-in-law of the old governor appear 
to have been on excellent terms, and conversed much of the new lands which 
wore constantly being discovered. Nor did Columbus only talk of them; he 
had, since his residence in Portugal, sailed occasionally in the expeditions to 
the Gulf of Guinea; and we may safely assume that he was well acquainted 
with the history of Portuguese discovery along the coast of that continent. 

Discovery was the great subject of interest in Portugal at that day ; and it was 
natural enough that when the learned map-maker Columbus was admitted 



")(i ( DM .Miu >' I. UK I'.Kioiu-: iiii: uistovicin of a.mkkua. 

to the presence of nobles and princes, that they should inquire about his 
work, and remark upon recent changes. Perhajjs they listened with interest 
to his accounts of his own voyafies; perhaps he now and then unfolded some 
plan by which new routes to India and Cathay miirht be found. Certainly 
the King looked so kindly upon him, and showed so much intei-est in the sub- 
ject which so absorbed the stranger's attention, that he entered into con- 
versation regarding indications of lands yet undiscovered, and showed Colum- 
l)us reeds as large as those which grow in India, which had been picked up 
on the coast of the Azores. 

Nor was this the only indication that there was a world beyond the waters. 
Many mariners had told of islands, seezi casually in the ocean; and the peo- 
ple of the C-anaries told of an island which was sometimes seen, in clear 
weather, to the westward of their islands; a vast stretch of earth, diversitied 
with lofty mountains and deep valleys. 80 persuaded were they of the real- 
ity of this island, that they asked and obtained the permission of the King of 
Portugal to discover it. Several exi)editions wei-e actually sent out, but not 
one succeeded in reaching the island; for it had been but a singular optical 
delusion. Then arose the story of St. Braiulan's Isle, an island which, it was 
said, was sometimes reached by those who set out for another port, but were 
<lriven from their course by storms; but could never be approached by any 
who set out with the intention of going there. This imaginary island was, 
for nuiuy years, laid down in maps as lying far to the west of the Canaries; 
and its existence was never actually disproved until tiie soutliern Allantic 
was thoroughly explored. 

Columbus, however, appears to have been but slightly impressed by this 
talk of islands in the Atlantic. lie always considered that the talk was oc- 
casioned by the existence of rocky islets, which, under certain conditions of 
the atmosphere, may assume the appearance of much larger and more fer- 
tile islands. Or, he reasoned, they may be floating islands, where a mass of 
earth is supported by twisted roots, and borne along by the ocean currents 
and the winds. 

More conclusive evidence was found by him in tlu; things that had drifted 
ashore. Great pines, unlike any known in Europe, had drifted ashore; 
pieces of wood, curiously and delicately carved, but unlike the handiwork of 
any known {)eople, had been bi-ought by the same agency to the coast of the 
Azores and the Madeiras; and the same .shores had received, from the same 
westward direction, the bodies of two men of some strange race. 

These were the subjects on which he conversed with his brother-in-law, 
like himself a bold and clever seaman. Correa had seen these carvings, and 
perhaps added many a rumor to the stock of information which Colum- 
bus had gleaned from many different quarters. 

Direct testimony was not wanting. Martin Vicenti, a pilot in the service 



Columbus' life before the discovery of America. 57 

of the King of Portugal, related to Columbus that after sailing four hundred 
and fifty leagues to the west of Cape St. Vincent, he had taken from tiie 
water a wonderfully carved piece of wood, which must have drifted from the 
far west; a mariner who had sailed from the port of St. Mary narrated how, 
in the course of a voyage to Ireland, he had seen laud far in the west, which 
the crew took for some remote part of Tartary. 

There is also a story, which seems to have no good foundation, that a cer- 
tain pilot sought shelter in Columbus' house, and finally died there, after 
having told him of an unknown land in the west, to which he had been driv- 
en by adverse winds; this pilot, says the story, left to Columbus the chart 
by which he had guided his vessel, and thus Columbus was enabled to cross 
the ocean by a path which had already been marked out, with the certainty 
of finding land at the end of his voyage. This story was mentioned by the 
first historian who gave it a place in his pages, as a vulgar, idle rumor; and 
he showed the falsity of it. Others, however, copied his summary of it, 
but not his contradiction; and a hundred and fifty years after it was said to 
have occurred, Garcilaso de la Vega told it, complete with names and cir- 
cumstances, as he had heard it told in his childhood by his father and other 
old men, who talked of it some seventy or eighty years after the death of the 
pilot. On such slender foundations does this attack upon the originality of 
Columbus rest. 

Columbus and his wife accompanied Don Pedro Correa and his wife to the 
island of Porto Santo, when the new governor went there to assume the du- 
ties of the office; and there the great navigator's eldest son, Diego, was 
born. His residence on this island was probably of but short duration; 
and was followed by voyages along the coast of Africa. In 1473 we find him 
at Savona, assisting his aged father, whom debt had compelled to flee from* 
Genoa; before this time, he had contributed regularly to the support of his 
parents and the assistance of his younger brothers. 

All this time, there had been growing up in his mind the idea that it 
would be possible to reach India by sailing to the west. We have seen what 
trifles confirmed his theory that there was land beyond the Atlantic, while 
he rejected those widely-believed stories about islands that had been seen: 
this theory was drawn from a close study of the learned writei-s, and the re- 
ports of navigators, and the known shape of the earth. 

In the year 1474 these ideas were fully matured; but either they had not 
been unfolded to any one in Lisbon, or they had been coldly and contempt- 
uously received. Columbus determined to take the subject to the highest liv- 
ing authority upon such questions, and wrote to the learned Toscanelli, of 
Florence, submitting to him the question whether it would be possible to 
reach India by sailing in a westerly direction. Toscanelli showed his great- 
ness by appreciation of (^olumbus. and resjioiwled M'ith a letter, applauding 



58 roi. I Mills' i.iiK iiKioKK Till; di.m n\ kkv or amkrk a. 

tlic bold and origin:il (lc'si<rn of tlic Cii'iiocM-. Nor was tlio k-tti-r all lliat was 
son! ; tlicre was also a chart, drawn h}- Toscaiu'lli himsolf, partly from the 
anriont authority of Ptoleiny, and partly from the descriptions of Marco 
Polo. In this chart, India, ('athay, and the longed-for Cipango, were depicted 
as lying directly to the west of Enroi)e, and hut a short distance away. This 
was in accordance with the iirevailing idea, l)efore noticed, that the earth wa.s 
much smaller than it has since been proved to be; and l)oth Toscanclli and 
Cohiiiitnis supposed Asia to lie much larger than it really is. Thus two er- 
ror-; cnnibiiicd to make Columbus more ready to undertake his great work ; 
had lie known that the earth is more than twenty-tivc tiiousand miles in cir- 
cumfi-rcncc, and that Cijiango, as ho called Japan, is half way around the 
world fiom the Azores, he would not, in all probability, have dared venture 
to seek India 1)y way of the west. At any rate, whatever his own boldness 
might have been willing to risk, he would have got neither ships nor men 
from any safe and prudent prince. 

Why should Columbus attach so much importance to reaching Jiidia by a 
shorter aiul safer ri>ute than any which was then used? His purpose was 
founded upon the deeplj' religious character of his mind. AVe have seen that 
Kublai Khan re(piested the Pope to .send a hundred learned men to instruct 
his courtiers in the Christian religion ; this had never been done. Again, much 
wealth might be gained by trading with these countries; and while the many 
wars for the recovery 'of the Holy Land from the Mohammedans had faih>d, 
it might l)e that the country of Palestine could l)c bought from them, if a 
sufHciently large price were offered. This motive explains many tilings in 
the life of Columbus which otherwise would not be clear. 

This plan was complete in liis mind before 147r); and in that year he went 
to his native city and offered to conduct a fleet from Genoa across the^wesl- 
eru ocean to the land of Kublai Kh:in. But the world was not yet ready 
for the idea thus laid before it ; and the Councilors of Genoa, wrapping 
their furred mantles around them, replied with courteous dignity that their 
city had l)een too much impoverished by her numerous wars to undertake 
any such expensive enterprise. 

Disaj)pointed, but not disheartened, Columlius went to Venice, and made 
the same offer, only to meet with the same reception. He seems to have 
perceived, in this secoiul refusal, that it was useless for liim to talk more 
about it for the l)resent; so, after a short visit to his father at 8avf)na, he 
again went to sea. 

His voyage in this year 1477 was in a new direction — lo tiie far luulliwest. 
This is the record which he has left of his \isit to Iceland, of wiiich the 
Norsemen luive made much: — 

" In the year 1477, in February. I navigated one hundrcil leagues Ix-yond 
Thiile, the southern \r,\rt of which is seventy-three degrees distant from the 



roLr.Murs' i.ikk rkkokk tiik discovkrv ok amkhica. 59 

equator, and not, sixty-tlircc, as sonit^ [jretend; neither is it sitiiatcil witliin 
the line which inchides the west of Ptoh-niy, but is much more westerly. 
The English, principally those of Bristol, go with their merchandise to this 
island, which is as large as England. When I was there the sea was not 
frozen, and the tides were so great as to rise and fall twenty-six fathoms." 
It is sometimes claimed that Columbus must have heard, during the course 
of this voyage, of the journeys of the Norsemen to Vinland and neighbor- 
ing countries. Even if he did, if he read all the sagas that tell of their ad- 
ventures, the knowledge thus gained only contirmed his theory, without de- 
tracting from the greatness of his discovery; he intended to tind a new 
route to India; these lands which had been discovered had nothing in com- 
mon with the thickly populated, wealthy and highly civilized domains of 
Kublai Khan. The Norsemen had never reached India. 

But while Columbus spoke several of the languages of the south of Eu- 
rope, we have no assurance that he was able to communicate with the 
Icelanders in their own tongue; and it is more than doubtful whetlier he 
ever heard of Vinland the Good. 

Upon his return to the south, he did not push his project for some time; 
perhaps he had already laid it before the King of Portugal and receivetl no 
encouraging answer; but of this we have no record. In 1481, the old King 
died, and was succeeded by his son, John II., a young man in his twenty-tifth 
year. Perhaps Columbus hoped from the adventurous daring of youth 
what he could not find in the prudence of the old King; at any rate, he laid 
his plans before the young ruler. 

There was another reason why Columbus should be bolder in pressing his 
desires than before; there was an invention recently perfected which en- 
abled the mariner to shape his course with more certainty, since by means 
of this instrument he could readily ascertain his distance from the equator. 
This was the astrolabe, which has since been discarded for the quadrant and 
sextant. It was intended to show the altitude of the sun, and by this means 
to fix the latitude. 

It must be remembered that for a hundred years Portugal had been fore- 
most in discovery and exploration; such had been the liberality of her re- 
wards for successful navigators, that men of all nations had been attracted 
to her service; learned men had been gathered from all quarters to pass 
upon the value of the information which might be brought back by the dar- 
ing sailors; and skilled cosmographers were busy at Lisbon making maps 
and charts which embodied this information. It might well be thought that 
this, of all others, was the country where Columbus, whose home had so 
long been within its borders, would meet with appreciation, and with that 
assistance which he sought. 

So Columbus hoped, as he patiently awaited the decision of the King, who 



(,() COM Mlil -- I. III'. I'.I'.I'OKK rill-; 1)|>(( )\ KIM i>|- AMKKK \. 

liiul listened lo liiiii witli llic closest attention, 'i'lie arjiunients of the navi- 
gator stiongly impressed the royal mind; but when it came to propo.^iin,!; 
term.'*, the monareh recoiled from the adventurer with surpri.'^e and <lisma\ : 
for Columbus, believing that ho had a woi-ld to bestow, demanded rank and 
honor and wealth in exchange for it. 

King John referred the matter to three persons who were in general cliarged 
with all matters relating to maritime di.soovery. These were two noted eos- 
mographcrs, and the Bishop of Oeuta, who was also the King'.s confessor. 
These learned men heard all tlu; arguments of Columbus, and returned 
their answer to the King: he was an e.xtravagant and idle dreamer. 

Still the King was not satisfied; ho convoked his great council, i-omposed 
of prelates and the most learned men in the kingdom; and laid before them 
the proposition which had been condemned by the three special advisei-s. 
Two views were taken of the subject of maritime discovery; the Bishop of 
C-euta maintained that the country had enough to do without engaging in 
any more such ventures; his oi)ponents replied that Portugal had won hon- 
or and glory and extended her dominion by this means, and should not hesi- 
tate to continue the work until a passage to India should be reached. But 
this passage to India was to 1)e by way of the Cape, they thought : and the 
project of Columbus was almost wholly ignored. 

Thus it had been condemned a second time; but still the King seemed to 
long to help him. Seeing this, the wily Bishop advised that means be taken 
to ascertain privately the value of the theory; should the King grant ships 
and men, and the adventurer turn out to have been but an idle dreamer, Portu- 
gal would be the laughing-stock of all who heard of it ; but if a small expedi- 
tion be sent out privately, it could be soon told what was the value of the 
idea, without committing the dignity of the crown; if it should turn out that 
Columbus was right, the King could, out of liis royal generosity, reward him. 
though not, of course, at the extravagant rate which the adventurer had 
fixed. This advice suited the King very well: and Columbus was accordingly 
informed that the matter was still under consideration: that the King was 
not yet ready to give him a definite answer. 

While lie was yet awaiting the answer, he learned that some sailors, who 
had lately taken part in some mysterious expedition, were ridiculing him and 
his ideas. He resolved to search them out, and find what they really knew of 
|the subject. He found them, and learned that they had been sent out by the 
( King to see if there really was a ))ath to India across the ocean; but storms 
had arisen; the ocean had proved impassable; they told of dreadful things 
oi)posing their further progress; and had l)een only too glad when the winds 
beat them back to the shores of Portugal. 

We do not read that Columbus .said anything to the.se sailors: only that he 
decidcil at once to leave Portugal. He declined positively to treat with 



fOLUMlU s" I.IFK. liEKOI.'K THK 1)1S(()\ KKV OK A.MEKICA. () I 

King Johu any further; though the King, when he saw that the poor adven- 
turer who had asked his assistance was angry at the trick that had been 
played him, made some effort to detain liim in Portugal still longer. Doua 
Felipa was dead; there was but one tie which still bound him to Portugal — 
his little son; but father and son could roam the world together. His re- 
solve was soon taken. His brother Bartholomew was dispatched to Eng- 
land to seek for aid there; and secretly, lost he should be prevented by the 
King, or, as some authorities say, by his creditors, Columbus and his little 
son left Portugal, to return no more. 

Of the countries of modern Europe, Russia was then almost unknown; 
certainly no one would think of journeying to its distant capital to ask help 
of its half-savage sovereign in any such enterprise. What is now Prussia 
was then a number of small independent states, frequently at war with each 
other. England was desolated by iifty years of civil war — the Wars of the 
Roses — which had just ended with the marriage of the heir of one line with 
the heiress of the other. King Henry VII. might render the wished-for aid, 
but Columbus seems to have had small hopes from this quarter. France 
was in a little more prosperous condition, though her King was much ham- 
pered by his nobles, who were more independent of him than he was of them, 
Italy consisted of a great number of small states, several of which he look- 
ed upon with hope, as not unlikely to give ships and men for this purpose. 
Spain was engaged in war with the IMoors within her very borders; and 
hence could ill afford anything which would drain her treasury. 

Italy was the most promising; and Columbus carried his plans there, sub- 
mitting them to Venice again. But they were declined, on account of the 
critical state of affairs there. The poverty and unsettled condition of the 
other states warned him that what Venice would not, they could not give; 
and he went to Spain. 

But it was not to the court. He laid his plan iirst before a wealthy noble, 
the Puke of Medina Celi, whose estates were like principalities, and whose 
retainers were an army in themselves. This powerful and wealthy noble lis- 
tened with attention to the navigator, and saw how reasonable was the thing 
which he proposed. His kinsman, the Duke of Medina Sidonia, warned him 
that the promises which Columlnis made were too splendid to be true, and 
that the stranger was only an Italian visionary; but he refused to be con- 
vinced of this. He entertained Columbus for some time in his house, and 
made himself thoroughly master of the project. He gave orders that four 
caravels which lay in his harbor of Port St. Mary should be made ready for 
sea; and it seemed to Columbus that he was on the very threshold of 
success. 

Suddenly, however, the Duke changed his mind; he saw that the empire 
which Columbus promised to give the promoter of this enterprise was too 



i\-2 coi.cMius" iiiK i'.ki'i>i;k iiu: discovkkv ok ami;i!U\. 

i!,Vi?ut for any subji'ct In liolil: iicilnips lio foivsiiw wars afraiiisL liis sove- 
reigns, slioultl ho try to hold it ; sucli wealth was too great for any hut a sove- 
reign prineo. On the other hand, should Columbus fail, it would still be 
known at what ho had aimed; and the Duke of Medina Celi would be an 
objeet of suspieion forever to his King and Queen, as having as])ire<l lo dn- 
minion which they had not given. 

Columbus now detcrminotl to apply to Kranee for hel|); but the Duke, 
disliking to see sueh advantages offered to a rival power before Sl)ain had 
been allowed to deeidc upon them, wrote to the Queen, reeommending it. 
A favorable reply was received, and Columl)UH was invited to the court. 

Before the mid<lle of the eleventh century, Sancho the Great, Emperor of 
Spain, had divided his dominions, at his death, among his four sons. Na- 
varre remained an independent kingdom for a longer time than the others; 
Castile and Leon were re-united shortly after this division; Arragon i-e- 
mained apart. In addition to these kingdoms, there was another monarchy 
in Spain, which had grown up during the eighth century. The early Mo- 
liamme(hins had been possessed with a thirst for the confjuest and conversion 
of the worhl; they had overrun many countries, offering the inhabitants the 
Koran or the sword; and one army of Arabs had even established themselves 
in Spain, making their capital at Cordova. Tiiere was war, nearly constant, 
between them and the various Christian kingdoms; but the hitter, being un- 
able to unite among themselves, even for the e.\|)ulsion of the infidels from 
tlicir country, did not accomplish as nmch as they miglit have done. But the 
Mohammedans were hard pressed, notwithstanding; and in time had to call 
to their assistance the Moors. The Arab kingdom, which had its capital al 
Coi'dova, was finally overthrown; but in its place was established a Moorish 
kingdom, with its capital at Granada. 

The Christian kingdoms preserved a distinct eMstence, their fortunes vary- 
ing with the character of their kings, until, in UtiSt, Isabella, the sister of the 
King of Castile and Leon, and heiress to its crown, married Ferdinand, heir 
of Arragon. When they succeeded to the crowns of the two kingdoms, the 
united realms were called Spain; but for some time each was independent 
sovereign of the hereditary kingdom. They were rulers, bound by the strict- 
est kind of alliance, but Isabella was no more Queen of Arragon than Fer- 
dinand was King of Castile and Leon. It is necessary to remind the reader 
(if this, that wo may understand more clearly the part which each of these 
two sovereigns took in the expedition which discovered America. 

When Columbus tir.st went to the court of Spain, he was the bearer of a 
letter from the Duke of Medina Cell, who asked, that since he had resigned 
the pleasuie of this undertaking in favor of the royal pair, he might yet Innc 
a share in the expedition, should it be carried into effect, -viid Mie armament 
be fitted out from his port of St. Mary. 




lsAiu:i.i.A i\ Ai;Mor. 



fi4 COLUMBUS' LMK HKrORK TIIK DIsrOVERV OF AMERICA. 

But it was not a good time to solicit aid from the Spanish rulers; they had 
entered upon a war with the kingdom of Granada which was intended to !»• 
final; they would not cease until the Moors had been driven from Spain. 
Columbus arrived at Cordova, where the royal forces were encamped ; ami 
his arrival was made known to the sovereigns. By their command, he was 
given in charge to the treasurer of Castile, Alonzo do (Juintanilla; but the 
Queen was too. busily engaged in military preparations to receive him. 

The scene was one which might have delighted any of the old romancers; 
the " marshalling in arms" meant the burnishing of spear and shield, the 
arraying of knights in full armor, mounted on horses cased in steel. The 
Queen herself wore a magnificent suit of plate armor, with an erniined man- 
tle hanging from her shoulders, and the greaves half concealed beneath a 
flowing garment covered with the richest embroidery. Some few cannon 
there may have been, and a very few muskets of anticjue fashion; but they 
were almost as dangerous to (he men who tired them as they were to those 
at whom they were aimed. 

In the midst of all this glitter of shield and sword and spear, the church- 
men mingled; some in the dark robes which we naturally associate with 
their calling, others in the more gorgeous costumes of the higher rauKS, even 
to the scarlet of the cardinal. There was nothing brilliant, or striking, or 
magnificent, or romantic, that we connect with the idea of war in the mid- 
dle ages, but what was present in this picture, as Columbus saw it, late in 
the spring of 1486. 

The King marched off, to lay siege to a Moorish city; the Queen remained 
in Cordova, but so busily engaged in dispatching troops hither and thither, 
and sending military supplies where they were needed, that she had not ;i 
moment to devote to Columbus. Then she went to the very midst of the 
war, and remained there, superintending in person the movements of her 
armies. Returning to Cordova to celebi'ate their victories, which, however, 
were not yet conclusive, the two sovereigns were almost immediately called 
upon to go to a distant province, to suppress a rebellion which there threat- 
ened the crown. The royal pair passed the winter in Salamanca. 

Meanwhile, Columbus was well entertained in the house of (^uintanilla, 
where he made mauy fi-iends for himself and his theories. Perhaps the most 
valuable of these friends were the Geraldini brothers, one of whom was tin- 
Pope's Nuncio, while the other was the precc^itor of the younger children 
of P"'erdinand and Isabella. It was during this time, also, that he became 
acquainted with Dona Beatrix Enriquez, the mother of his second son. Fer- 
nando, afterwards his biographer. 

Columbus followed the court to Sahuiiaiua, and his friend (iuinlanill.i 
made great efforts to obtain for him the friendship of Mendoza, Archbishop 
of Toledo, without whose advice the King and Queen did little of import- 



COL.UMBU.S LIFK BEFOKK THE DIS('0\ KUV OF AMEiiltA. 



6.j 



uiicc. lie was ii man of sound judgment and quick understanding; and 
although he knew but little of the science of geography, readily gave audi- 
ence to the 2)rolf(je of Quintanilla. At first, it seemed to him that the the- 
ory of Columbus was opposed to the direct statements of Scripture as to the 
form of the earth; but being convinced that this was not so, he admitted 
that there could be nothing wrong in seeking to extend the bounds of human 
knowledge. He was pleased with Columbus himself , whom he at once saw 
to be free from the vanity which attends the small mind, and wholly wrap- 
ped up in his subject. He saw that the navigator urged no wild dream, but 
a theory based on extensive knowledge and careful thought; and he con- 
sented to bring the matter to the attention of the sovereigns. 




Columbus in the Royal Presence. 



Probably Isabella was not present at the first interview which was granted 
Colunibus by Ferdinand; one of his biographers distinctly says that he did 



Columbus" life befork the discovery of America. I!7 

not see the Queen until the siege of Malaga, which took place some time after 
this interview ; but although not admitted to au interview, he surely must have 
seen her while in Cordova. Be this as it may, Ferdinand received him, and 
listened, coolly and warily, to all that he had to say; reserving his decision 
with characteristic caution, until he had heard the opinions of the learned 
men of his kingdom. His ambition was excited by the thought of what might 
be done for Spain, were this dreamer to work out the f ultillmeut of his vis- 
ions; and he foresaw that Portugal, which had labored so long to establish 
a road to India around the Cape of Good Hope, would l)e forestalled in her 
anticipations of commei'cial gains if this Genoese adventurer should succeed in 
finding a shorter, more direct passage across the Atlantic. Still, the opin- 
ions of the learned nmst be considered before the King could give any 
definite answer. 

During the progress of the congress which was held at Salamanca for this 
l)urpose, Columbus was lodged and entertained with the magnificence due 
to a guest of the King, at the college convent of St. Stephen, a house of 
the great Dominican order. It was here that the conference was held; and 
the men gathered to decide the great question were mainly churchmen, since 
few of the laity had any learning. 

"What a striking spectacle must the hall of the old convent have pre- 
sented at this memorable conference! A simple mariner, standing forth in 
the midst of au imposing array of professors, friars, and dignitaries of the 
church; maintaining his theory with natural eloquence, and, as it were, 
pleading the cause of the New World. We are told that when he began to 
state the grounds of his belief, the friars of St. Stephen's alone paid 
any attention to him ; that convent being more learned in the sciences than 
the rest of the university. The others appear to have entrenched themselves 
behind one dogged position that, after so many profound cosmograpliers 
and philosophers had been studying the form of the world, and so nuiny 
able navigators had been sailing about it for several thousand years, it was 
great presumption in au ordinary man to suppose that there reimiined such 
a vast discovery for him to make." — Irvhtg. 

But there were other and more definite objections than this. We pass 
over some which will readily suggest themselves, as being reasonable in this 
time; and state a few of those which show the ignorance and prejudice of 
these learned men, chosen to assist the King with their knowledge: — 

It is a piece of great foolishness to think that thei'e can be such a thing 
as an antipode; can people walk with their feet upward, as flies cling to 
the ceiling of a room? Is there a part of the earth where the sky is beneath 
all, where rain and hail ascend, and where the trees grow downward with 
their branches? Certainly not, said these wise men ; and shook their learned 
heads at Columbus. 



(1.S 



I. UK IlKI-OltK IIIK l)l>(()\ KKV Ol 



Agjiiii, they quuk'd St. AiigustiiHi to pj-ovti tliat the ideas advanced by 
Colmnhus were in direct coiitradietion to the Scriptures. To maintain thai 
tiuMo are inhabited lands across the ocean is to suppose that there are men 
who arc not descenih'd from Adam; since tliese supposed Al)oriirines oouhl 
never have crossed the sea. 

Again, the Bible says that the heavens are sirctciicd about tlie j-arth lii<e 
a te.nt; how could this be possible, and yet allow fi-ee passage around it? 
Certainly, tlic earth nuist be flat. 

Those who maintained this knew considerably more of theology and such 
subjects than they did of geography. There were others, who were quilc 
willing to admit that the earth is round, who yet had otiier objections to 
urge. One of these was, that the insufferable heat of the Torrid Zone would 
make it quite impossible to cross the ocean in the direction indicated. Even 
granting that this should be passed, they claimed that the circumference of 
the earth is so great that it would require three years to reach the land on 
the other side of the ocean — an error curiously differing from the error of 
Columbus, who supposed the earth to be smaller than it actually is. 

Again, the Greek philosopher, Ei)icurus, was quoted to pi-ove that only 
half of the world was habitable; that the sky extended over no more; and 
that the remainder was a waste of waters, a chaos, a gulf. 

Others argued that even if a ship should succeed in reaching India, llic 
return voyage would be imj)ossible; for the waters would then rise like a 
kind of mountain, since the earth was round, and he could not be so foolisii 
as to think of sailing up-hill. 

It must have taxed the patience or Columbus to listen to such arguments 
as these, and reflect that the fate of his enterprise, so far as help from Spain 
was concerned, lay in the hands of men who knew so little about the sub- 
ject, lie kept his temper, however, and answered gravelj' and respectfully 
as the arguments were pressed: the sacred writers, he said, were speaking 
in figures adaj)tcd to the comprehension of men before science had made 
any advancement; the commentaries of the fathers, ho contended, were not 
intended as scientific treatises, and hence it was unnecessary to speak of them, 
either to support or refute; ho showed that the most illusti'ious of the an- 
cient philosophers believed both hemispheres of the globe to be habitable, 
although separated from each other by that impassable Torrid Zone; but he 
had himself voyaged to the Gulf of Guinea, which is almost directly under 
the Equator, and cf)uld thus assure them from his own experience tliat the 
Torrid Zone abounded in fruits and population, instead of being uniidial)it- 
able. 

But as he argued with them, he forgot the petty objections which they had 
urged, and poured forth such eloquence as they had never listened to be- 
fore; and surely, outside of religion, no man ever had such a grand subject. 



COLUMHls" LirE KEFOKE THE 1)1S(0\ERV OF AMERICA. 69 

It may be said that he was not speaking whollj' of tlie things of this world; 
for he called upon them as Christians to send the missionaries of the Cross 
to these millions awaiting them in far Cathay. A more sacred duty even than 
this, according to the ideas of the times, called them; the Holy Sepulchre 
was in the hands of the intidels; this scheme offered the means of redeem- 
ing it, and placing it once more within the control of Christian princes. 

How many converts were made by this eloquence? We have the record 
of but one, Diego de Deza, then the professor of theology in the convent 
where the conference was held, and afterward Archbishop of Seville, a 
church dignitary of Spain who is second only to the Archbishop of Toledo. 
By his efforts many of the churchmen were brought to give the matter a 
more dispassionate hearing; he removed many of their prejudices, founded 
ou a mistaken belief regarding the meaning of the Scriptures and the com- 
mentaries of the fathers ; in short, he repeated, with all the force which only 
a churchman in good standing could give to an argument in that time, the 
reasoning which Columbus had already used, but which was not regarded 
from the lips of a layman. Thus in making one convert he made a host. 

What was the result of the conference? It may be stated in a single word 
— nothing. Spite of the eloquence of Columbus, seconded as it was by that of 
Deza, there were too many narrow-minded, ignorant, prejudiced men in that 
assemblage, for the question to be fairly considered on its merits ; and although 
there were several meetings, the decision was put off from time to time, un- 
til the court left Salamanca for Cordova, in preparation for the spring 
campaign. 

We are not to understand that Columbus spent this waiting time idly, or 
even engaged in study; several times, during the course of the campaign, he 
would be summoned to attend a conference with the sovereigns, and would 
tie led into the vei-y heart of the country where the war was going on; but 
l)efore he had reached the point designated, the fortunes of war would have 
carried the King or Queen to another place, and the conference would be in- 
detinitely postponed. 

Tiie siege of Malaga took place between the spring and summer of 1487, 
the town surrendering in August. It was during this siege that a fanatic 
Moor tried to assassinate Ferdinand and Isabella, but mistook two of their 
courtiers for the persons of the King and Queen; the wounds, fortunately, 
were not fatal. The fortunes of Columbus were doubly imperilled by this 
act; for not only had Isabella, who afterward proved the friend that he 
sought, been threatened by the blow, but it had actually fallen upon the 
Marchioness of Moya, who pleaded his cause before the Queen when it came 
to be considered. 

The campaign ended with the fall of Malaga, and the court returned to 
Cordova; but still the plans of Columbus were not to be considered by the 



(U (oi.iMi'.i s i.ii r. itKKOHK riii; discon i;i;v ok ami.ijk a. 

sovereigns. .lust :it the time wIhmi liiev iiiiglit have had leisure to do so, the 
plague l)rokc out in Cordova, and tlie eoui-t was driven fi'oni the city. 

While lie was tliu.s engaged in following up a court which was continuallv 
moving from one iilaceto another, and whicli found its sole interest in the war 
which it was prosecuting, Columbus received a letter from King John of 
Portugal, inviting him to return to Lisbon, and assuring him that ho should 
not be molested by any suits of cither a civil or criminal nature. Wliat was 
the offense which Columbus had committed against the laws of Portugal it 
was impossible to determine; j)robal)ly it was a tlcbt which remained unpaid; 
for it will bo iemend)ere(l that long after this datc^ there was such a thing 
as imprisonment for debt; and suits of this kind were sometimes converted 
into criminal ])rosecutions. 

But no matter in what way he had I'cndcrcd himself liable to the laws of 
Portugal, he evidently had no intention of retui'ning to that I'ouiitry. King 
John had proved himself utterly untrustworthy, and ('olund)us declined the 
offer thus made him. lie also received a letter from Henry \ll. of Eng- 
land, which country his brother Bartholomew had reached after long delay, 
holding out promises of encouragement. 

Pi-o])ably these things reached the ears (tf King Fcrdinanil, and lie saw 
that something must be done to prevent Cohimbus fi-om accei)ting the of- 
fers. Certainly he summoned the navigator to appear before a conference 
of learned men, to be held in the city of Seville; a royal order was issued, 
))i-ovidiug for his lodging antl entertainment in that city; the Castilian treas- 
urer had been directed to pay him a certain sum of money, probably to pro- 
vide for liis expenses to the city of Seville; and the magistrates of all 
towns through which he might pass were commanded to furnisli him with 
entertainment, since the miserable inns did not afford tilting accommoda- 
tions. 

But again, as so often l)efore, the conference was delayed by war. This 
time, however, wt^ tind ('olumbus, not patiently following the court about, 
and waiting for a hearing, but actually " tighting, giving jjioofs of the dis- 
tinguished valoi- which accompanied his wisdom and his lofty desires." 

Ilis religious ardor received new strength during the course of this cam- 
paign. Two friars of the convent established in Jerusalem, came as messen- 
gei-s to Ferdinand and Isabella, to tell what thi-eats the Grand Soldan of 
Kgypt liad made, if the Spanish sovereigns did not end their war against the 
Mohammedans of Spain. He would ]nit to death all the Christians in hi> 
dominions, raze their churches and convents, and utterly destroy the Holy 
Sc|)ulchre and all other places esteemed sacred by the Christians. 

It was impossible for the Spaniards to give up the war; for it had come to 
be a question of life and death Ix'tween the Moorish and the Christian king- 
doms; it was impossible for l)oth to conlinuc in .Spain. Isabella, howevt'r, 



rOLUMBUS' LIKE KICrORR TlIK DISCOVKRY OK AMERICA. 71 

granted a perpetual annual gift of a thousand ducat.s in gold for liie main- 
tenance of the convent, and sent a veil embroidered by herself to be hung 
before the shrine; then, dismissing the friars, turned to the prosecution of 
the war again. 

But their coming, and tlie message which they brought, had a great effect 
upon tlie minds of many soldiers of high rank; and particularly was Colum- 
lius affected by it; it was a new and stronger proof than ever of the need of 
finding the rich rcgitnisof the east, and bringing home treasure enough to pur- 
chase the Holy Sepulchre from the heathen who so persecuted Christians. 

Again wo find a similar series of events filling the next year. Finally, in 
the spring of 14111, Columbus determined that he would wait no longer; he 
pressed for a reply to his suit. With some difficulty, the King was persuaded 
to tell Bishop Talavera that tiie learned men who had Ijcen so long in con- 
ference must render their decision. Their answer was ready, after some de- 
lay, and the King was gravely informed that the proposed scheme was vain 
and impossible, and that it did not become such great princes to engage in 
an enterprise of the kind on such weak grounds as had been advanced. 

Not all the members of the conference agreed in this report, however; 
there was what, in modern parlance, is called a minority report as well; and 
this, fortunately for Columbus, was rendered by Fray Diego de Deza, tutor 
to Prince Juan, who had access to the car of the King and Queen when others 
were denied. But the most favorable answer that even this suitor could ob- 
tain was a message that the expenses of the long war had been so great that 
the King and Queen could not now engage in any new enterprise demanding 
money and men. 

Disheartened at tliis message, Columbus repaired to court, to learn from 
Ferdinand ami Isabella themselves if this was really the answer they meant 
to give him, after keeping him waiting their pleasure for so many years. 
^^'he^ he found that it was so, he thought that it was but a polite way of tell- 
ing him that they considered his schemes impracticable and visionary, and 
tliat they consequently had no intention of assisting him. lie accordingly re- 
solved that he would leave Spain at once, and seek in the court of France the 
aid which had been refused him by the Most Catholic King. 

Before he went, however — and a journey from Spain to France was some- 
thing of an undertaking then — he must see and talk with Don Pedro Correa, 
who, it will be remembered, had married one of the Perestrello sisters, and 
was therefore, by courtesy, brother-in-law to Columbus; and who had been 
one of those who connnunicatcd to the future discoverer what signs of land 
to the west of the ocean had been perceived, from time to time, by those ac- 
quainted with the western islands. He set out on foot; for his .stock of 
money, never large, must be carefully husbanded; he could not tell when he 
should liavo anv more. 




•h-'- - -f- -<'—-- 



COLU.MBUS' I,IFE BEFORE THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. 78 

He was not alone on this journey; his son Diego, who was proljabl}' not 
more than fifteen years old, accompanied him; three-year-old Fernando, we 
may conjecture, I'emained in Cordova with his mother. We may easily 
imagine the picture — father and son toiling along the lonely road from Sev- 
ille to Huelva, near the little seaport of Palos de Moguer. 

Half a league outside the walls of the last-named town, there is still stand- 
ing an ancient convent of the Franciscan order, dedicated to Santa Maria dc 
Rabida. Before its gates, one day four hundred years ago, a stranger, lead- 
ing a boy by the hand, stopped, and asked for some bread and water for the 
child. There was nothing unusual in the request; for at that time there were 
no inns of any kind; and the traveler expected to find lodging and food in 
the castle or the convent. The request was granted as a matter of course; 
and while the child ate and drank, the prior of the convent, who chanced 
by, entered into a conversation with the father, whose plain garments did 
not conceal the evident distinction of the wearer. 

The prior had taken much interest in geographical and nautical science; 
for the seaport of Palos sent many enterprising navigators out to explore 
unknown paths upon the ocean; but the stranger opened a new line of 
thought to him. India could be reached by sailing westward across the 
ocean, and there were no insuperable difiiculties in the way — that was the 
wonderful idea which the stranger unfolded to the prior, Juan Perez de Mar- 
chena. 

But the wanderer had more to tell thau that he had conceived this idea. 
He told of long and patient waiting for help from the sovereigns of Spain, 
and their decision that the fulfillment of his hopes from them must be indefin- 
itely postponed; and he told the prior how, disappointed, but not wholly 
disheartened, sure that the truth which he alone saw would be apparent to 
others could be but point it out, he was now on his way to the court of 
France, to offer to Charles VHI. the wonderful things which Ferdinand and 
Isabella had refused to accept from him. 

The good prior was dismayed to find that these things were to be lost to 
Spain; it must be that the petition of Columbus had not been rightly pre- 
sented. He knew of a power which he himself possessed; he had once been 
confessor to Queen Isabella, and knew that he could reach her ear at any 
time. But before he ventured to appeal to her — and his caution shows why 
the appeal was listened to when it was made — he determined not to trust 
altogether to his own judgment, which might have been led astray by the 
Avonderful eloquence of the stranger. He accordingly detained Columbus 
and his son as his guests, and sent for his friend, Garcia Fernandez, a phy- 
sician of Palos. 

Fernandez came; and Columbus again explained his belief and aims. Like 
the prior, the physician was impressed by the boldness and originality of the 



74 coi-rMms' mi-k hki-ohk Tin-, discovkhv ok a.mkhka. 

iiiarinor; aiul listeiuHl eagerly to all that lie liad to say. But other frieuds 
must be found for him; the question must bo submitted to the judgment of 
practical sailors, many of whom were to be found in Palos. Several veter- 
ans of the sea were invited to the convent, to talk with the mariner who had 
liitely COMIC fliere; one of these was Martin Aloiizo I'in/.oii, the head of a 
family of ricii and experienced seamen, who had made m;iiiy adventurous ex- 
peditions. 

Remembering how the Tortuguese had won fame ami wealth by voyages 
of discovery along the African coa.st, these cxijcrienced mariners saw no 
reason why, under the leadership of a man daring and original enough to 
plan and lead such an expedition, new worlds might not be opened up in an- 
other direction. "What had been to churchmen a stumbling-block, and to 
l)hilosophers foolishness, was to these practical, brave and generous sailors 
the highest wisdom. Pinzon, particularly, was so impressed with the genius 
of Columbus, that he offered to take part in such an expedition when it 
siiould be organized; and in the meantime, if Columbus would but renew 
his application to tlie Spanish court, to defray the expenses connected with 
doing so. 

The prior begged Columbus to remain in the convent until an answer 
could be received from the Queen; and dispatched a letter to her by a trusty 
messenger. It was not difficult to prevail upon Columbus to .stay; for he 
dreaded to be put off in France as he had already been in Spain. 

The Queen was at Santa Fe; and the messenger required only fourteen 
days for the journey of something like four hundred miles from Palos and 
return. Isabella had always been more favorably disposed toward Colum- 
l)us than the wary and cold Ferdinand; and she now wrote kindly, bidding 
Perez come to court, leaving Christopher Columbus in confident hope until 
he should hear further from her. The prior at once set out, late at night as 
it was when the messenger returned; and alone, riding his good mule, the 
steed which the ideas of the day assigned to churchmen, he traversed the 
conquered territory of Granada, and entered the presence of the Queen. 

The friar pleaded the cause of Columbus eloquently and fearlessly. Be- 
fore this time, it is probable that Isabella had never heard the case fully 
stated; for it is Ferdinand whom we find active in receiving the reply of the 
learned conference, and deciding upon the case. The Queen listened with 
■su<'h interest that Perez felt great hopes of the result, even before she com- 
manded Columbus to return to court; and, with a true womanly attention to 
details, ordered that a sum equal, at the present day, to about three hundred 
dollars of United States money, be sent him for the expenses of the journey. 
The arrival of Columbus at the Spanish court was nuirked by what the 
men of that day considered one of the most im])ortant events in the history 
of Spain — the linal downfall of the Mohammedan power in that country, 



COLIJMUUS" LIFE BEFORE THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. ( ■> 

and the surrender of the capital city of the Moors, Granada, to Ferdinand 
and Isabelhi. It was indeed an eventful time when Columbus arrived, for he 
came to offer still more extended empire, and nmltiplied wealth, to Spain; 
he came, bringing in his hands the gift of a New AVorld. 

We shall not dwell, as Irving does, upon the glittering magnificence of the 
scene of surrender at Granada; nor upon the rejoicings which followed it. 
Columbus obtained a hearing, and commissioners were appointed to consider 
the case. But his demands appeared to thcin exorbitant; this penniless for- 
eign adventurer demanded that he should be created admiral and viceroy of 
the provinces which he should discover, and receive one-tenth of all gains, 
either by trade or conquest. The proutl Spanish nobles looked coldly upon 
the man who sought to raise himself to their rank, and remarked that it 
was a shrewd arrangement which he wished to make; having nothing to lose, 
he demanded, in case of success, rank, honor and enormous wealth. Co- 
lumbus, nettled by the sneer, promptly offered to defray one-eighth of the 
cost of the expedition, if he might enjoy one-eighth of the profits. He had 
friends in Palos, he knew, who believed in him and his enterprise; and Mar- 
tin Alouzo Pinzon, if all others failed him, would bear him out in this 
proposition to the royal commissioners. 

By Talavera's advice, the Queen declined to accept his terms: and offered 
conditions which, while more moderate, were yet advantageous antl honor- 
able; but Columbus would not yield an inch; and mounting a nuile which he 
had bought for the journey from Palos to Santa Fe, he rode forth again, 
once more to seek the French court. 

But although Columbus had failed to convince Ferdinand and his more 
generous, enthusiastic wife, he had made many friends about the court who 
appreciated his powers of mind to the full. One of these was Luis de St. 
Angel, receiver of the ecclesiastical revenues of Arragon. Like others of 
high rank and place, he was filled with dismay at seeing the great man de- 
part from Spain, to throw into the lap of another country what had been 
wantonly rejected by Arragon and Castile; and he had the courage to tell 
Isabella what he thought. He pictured not only the enormous addition to 
her revenue and dominions, as well as her fame among rulers; but he told, 
with impassioned fervor, of the religious aspect of the enterprise. He 
painted the millions in the realms of Kublai Khan, waiting eagerly to receive 
the gospel; and then prophesied of the honor in which they would hold 
the name of her who should carve out a path for the missionaries of the 
Cross to reach them. He showed what more this discovery might do for the 
exaltation of the Church ; how the boundless riches of Cathay would buy the 
Holy Sepulchre from the Mohammedans, and the most sacred spots on 
earth be forever free to the feet of the pilgrim. He told her how sound and 
practicable were the plans of Columbus; that they had received the endorse- 



76 fdl.lMBls' LIFE BEFORE THE DISCOVERY OK AMKRH A. 

Miciit of V(li'i-:m iii:irincr.s; and that lie was no idle visionary, hut a man of 
wide scienlilio kno\vled}j;e and sound practical judgment. He told her that 
failure would l)ring no disgrace upon her; for it was the business of princes 
to investigate such great questions as this; and then informed her that flic 
expense of the expedition, of which so much had been said, would amount 
to no more than two vessels and about two thousand crowns. 

Isabella listened with renewed interest; but Ferdinand was at her side, 
ready to oppose any such unwise scheme. The war hail drained the treas- 
ury of the united kingdoms; they must wait until it had lieen rcjilenished. 
But Isabella was too deeply interested in the advancement of the Church: 
though she ^vas the wife of Ferdinand, she was also Queen-Regnant of Cas- 
tile and Leon, a kingdom equal in importance and wealth to Arragon. 

" I undertake the enterprise," she answered St. Angel, after a slioit in- 
terval of suspense, " for my own crown of Castile, and will pledge my jew- 
els to I'aise the money for it."' 

It is because of this speech on the part of tiicC^uccn thai tlic famous \ crsc 

reads: — 

" To Castile ami Leon Coliiinbiis ftave a new world." 

Ferdinand had neither part nor h)t in the enterprise. It is true that Isa- 
bella did not find it necessary to pledge her jewels to raise the necessary 
funds; that the sum re([uircd w:is taken from the treasuiw of Arragon; for 
that was not so emptied by the war as the King had implied: but the credit 
of the kingdom of Castile and Leon was pledged to repay tiiis debt, and it 
was afterward repaid in full. 

(■olwmbus had journeyed about two leagues — six miles — on his way back 
to Palos, thence to France, when this decision was reached. It was not 
known whether he had actually set out or not ; but when this was found to 
be the case, a courier was dispatched to summon him back to Santa Fe. He 
did not return without hesitation; for his hopes had been i-aised often be- 
fore this; but he was told that the (^ueen had now positively promised to 
undertake the enterprise; and his doubts thus removed, he turned his mule's 
head once again toward Santa Fe, and joyfully retraced his steps. 

The articles of agreement drawn up provided that Columbus should have 
for himself and his heirs, forever, the office of admiral, viceroy, and gov- 
ernor-general over all lands whi('h he might discover; that he should be en- 
titled to one-tenth of all revenues from these lands, in whatever way 
obtained; and that he .should, at any time, be entitled to contribute one- 
eighth of the expense of fitting out vessels, and receive one-eighth of the 
profits. 

In accordance with this last-named privilege, Colunibus, witii tiie aid of 
Pinztui, added a third vessel to the armament of two wliicli Isalx'Ua fui'iiish- 



COLCMBUS LIFE BKKORE THE DIsrO\ ERV OE AMEKUA. 77 

cd. These articles were signed by Ferdinand and Isabella, April 17,1492; 
for although Isabella bore the whole expense, the expedition was under the 
patronage of the united sovereigns of Spain ; and the signatures stand side 
l)y side on this important document : " I, the King," "I, the Queen." 

A letter of privilege, or conunission, was granted to Columbus the last of 
the same month; confirming the ofKces mentioned to him and his heirs, and 
authorizing the use of the title Don by him and his descendants. A little 
later than tlii^, the Queen issued letters-patent; appointing his son Diego a 
|)age in the household of her son, Prince Juan. This Mas an honor usually 
shown only to boys of high rank; and was thus a nuirked compliment to the 
Genoese traveler. 

May 12, 14il2, Columbus set out for Palos, to make ready the vessels for 
his expedition. He was now in the fifty-sixth year of his age ; eighteen years 
had passed since the plan was matured in his own mind so far that he was 
ready to ask the advice of the learned Florentine; fully half of that time had 
been spent in waiting the convenience of the great ones of earth ; but at last 
he who was really great was to venture his all upon three small vessels, 
scarcely sea-worthy. 



CHAPTER III. 

THE FIRST VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS. 

New Difficulties — Reliutant Seamen — The Three Vessels — A Town of Mourning — Sets 
Sail from Palos — Alarms — The Double Reckoning — Variation of the Compass — the Grassy Sea 
— Renewed Doubts — Indications of Land — Mutiny of the Crew — Hope Renewed — Confidence 
in Columbus — Night- Watch of the Admiral — Light Through the Darkness — " LAND ! " — 
The Landing of the Discoverer — Taking Possession— The Natives— Cruising — Self-Deception 
— Exploration of Cuba — Two Wonderful Plants — Desertion of the Piiita—Uayti Discovered — 
Visits fnjiii Native Chiefs — Guacanagari — The <SW«/n jl/uc/a Wrecked — Assisted by Natives — 
Tribute of Columbus to their Character — The Indians' First Acquaintance with Firearms — 
Enviable Indians — Colony Projected — Eiforts to Convert the Indians — Building the Fortress 
— Instructions to Colonists — Dejjarture of Columbus — Rejoined by the Finta — Explanations — 
Armed Natives— Hostilities — Difficulties of Return Voyage — Storms — Piety of the Crew — 
Causes of the Admiral's Distress — His Precautious — Land Once More — Enmity of Portuguese 
— Liberated Prisoners — Departure — Storms Again — Off the Coast of Portugal — Reception in 
Portugal — The King's Advisers — Rejoicing at Palos — Arrival of the Pinta — Pinzon's Treach- 
ery — His Death — Reception of Columbus at Court — Unparalleled Honors — Royal Thanksgiv- 
ing — Jealousy of Courtiers — Columbus and the Egg — The Papal Bull — Preparations for a Sec- 
ond Voyage — Various Arrangements — The Golden Prime of Columbus. 

(5 I HE port of Palos liad committed some ott'ense against the sovereigns ; 
'I in punishment for which it had been sentenced to furnish two cara- 
vels for royal use, for the period of one year. These were the \ es- 
sels assigned for the use of Columbus, and he was empowered to procure 
and lit out a third vessel, at his own expense, in accordance with the terms 
of the agreement. 

Having reached Palos, and again become the guest of Fray Perez, Co- 
lumbus proceeded to the most public place in the town, tlie porch of the 
churcli of St. George; and having caused the autliorities and many of the 
inhabitants to assemble there, read to them the royal order that they should, 
within ten days, furnish him with the two caravels for the service of the 
Crown. The crews were to receive the ordinary wages of seamen, payable 
four nuniths in advance; and the strictest orders were given in regard to 
the furnishing of such supplies as Columbus might require. 

Weeks passed, and not a vessel could be procured, nor a sailor to man it 
had one been found. Then a royal order was issued, and an otficer of the 
royal household detailed to see that it was executed : any vessel belonging 
to Spanish subjects might be pressed into the service, and the masters and 
crews obliged to sail with Columbus wherever he might give orders. 

(79J 



8U iiiK iiHM' xovAci; <>i" <<>i,rMi'.i s. 

After tlic lUM'C'ssiirv ships wore socuiihI, aiul tin,' men engaged, theii- were 
many difiiciilties arising. The nicu employed to caulk the vessels, for in- 
stance, did their work so badly that they were ordered to do it over again; 
whereupon tiiey disappeared from Palos. Some of those who had volun- 
teered after the Pinzons had set the- example, repented of what the}' had 
<lone, and deserted and hid. Had it not been for the example and inHuence 
of the Pin/.ons, Columbus would probably have found it impnssiljje to til oul 
even the modest armament which he had recjuired. 

The >Sa)i/a Marin was j)rcpared especially for the expedition, and was the 
only one of the vessels that was decked. It was commanded by Columbus 
himself. The Plnln was connnanded by Martin Alonzo Pinzon, anti had his 
brother Francisco as pilot; the Xiiia was under the authority of \'icente 
Yauez Pinzon. There were three pilots besides Pinzon, a number of officers 
of the C'rown, inchuling a royal notary, who went along to take ofKcial notes 
of all transactions, a surgeon, some private adventurers, and ninety mariners 
— a total of one hundred and twenty j)ersons. 

Before setting sail, each one, from Columbus to the meanest sailor, ciiii- 
fessed himself and partook of the sacrament. Tiiey were looked upon \)\ 
their kinsmen and friends as doomed men; Palos was a town of mourning: 
for nearly every household had some member or friend engaged in this 
dreadful enterprise. Nor was this feeling confined to those who remained 
onshore; it was fully shai'ed by the sailors thems(?lves; and when, half an 
hour before sunrise on the morning of Friday, August 8, 14!l2, the little fleet 
sailed from the harbor of Palos, there was but one man on board who felt 
any certainty that they would ever see Si>ain again. 

Not three days had passed before Columbus had evidence of tiie ill-will of 
those who had furnished the expedition. On the third day out, the I'liita 
made signals of distress; and it was found that her rudder was broken. It 
was clearly due to the contrivance of her owners, who had thus tried to dis- 
able their vessel so that she might be left behind. Pinzon, who commanded 
the Pinla, secured the rudder with cords until the following day; when, the 
wind having lulled, the other ships lay to while the necessary temporary re- 
pairs were being made. 

But the vessel proved to be leaky; and Columbus decided that they should 
put in at the Canary Islands until- she should be repaired; return to Spain 
he was resolved that he would not. The pilots had asserted that the Can- 
aries were far distant from the ])oint where the injuries of the Phi/a were 
discovered; l)ut Columbus differed from them. The event proved that he 
was right ; and this added somewhat to their o])inion of his knowledge and 
abilities. 

This new confidence in him enabled him to pacify the sailors when they 
became alarmed at seeing the volcano of Teueriffc sending forth flame and 



TllK l-lKsr V(>V.\(iK OF COLl'-MlilS. SI 

smoke. He recalled the extiiiiplcs of Etna aud Vesuvius, which were well- 
known to them, and thus allayed their fears. But he himself became alarm- 
ed when he found that a Portuguese fleet had been seen hovering off the 
Canaries; he suspected the wily King of Portugal, Avho had thrown away 
his own chances of engaging in tiiis great work of discovery, of being anx- 
ious to revenge himself upon Columbus for having entered the service of 
Spain. The Admiral, as Columbus may now be called, accordingly gave hasty 
orders that his ships should be put to sea at once. 

It was the morning of Sei)tember 6 when they saw the heights of Ferro 
gradually fade into a dim blue line upon the horizon, and knew that an un- 
explored ocean lay before them. As the sun rose higher, their hearts sank 
lower, and all three ships were tilled with the complainings and lamentations 
of the sailors. Many of the most rugged were not ashamed to shed tears 
because of the land which, as they thought, they had left behind tliem for- 
ever. It required all the elocjucnce of Columbus to sooth them, even par- 
tially, with glowing word-pictures of the riches and magnificence of the 
countries to which he was conducting them. 

Columbus gave strict orders that, should the vessels b}' any mischance be 
separated, each should continue its course due westward; providing, that 
when they had gone seven hundred leagues, they should lay by from midnight 
until dawn, each night; for that was the distance at which he expected to 
lind land. It was now that he resorted to his stratagem of concealing from 
the crew the true distance from Europe; keeping two reckonings, one of 
which, intended for his own guidance, was correct; the other, published to 
the crews of the three vessels, considerably less than the truth. 

They had sailed five days after leaving the Canaries when they fell in with 
a spar, evidently part of the rigging of a vessel much larger than any of their 
own. Tliis did not tend to raise the spirits of the men, but was rather an 
indication of tlie fate which had befallen others, and which they might 
expect. 

Two days after this, Columbus noticed that the needle of the compass, 
hitherto considered an unfailing guide, no longer pointed exactlyto the north. 
This appears to have occasioned some alarm even to his courageous soul ; and 
he observed it attentively for three days, during which time the variation be- 
came greater and greater. At the end of that period, it was noticed by one 
of the pilots; and from him the alarm spread to his comrades, thence to 
the others. 

It was a foi'tunate thing that Columbus should have observed this so long 
before the others discovered it; for he had opportunity to consider the case, 
and reason out a theory to account for it. When the pilots, then, acquaint- 
ed him with their discovery, he assured them that the pole star is not a 
fixed point, but revolves around the pole like other stars; and thus the 




(liiiMlii^ W tiLiiiM loi Land. 



THE FIRST VOYA(iE OF CaHMHUS. 83 

needle of the compass is subject to variations. Ignorant as they were, they 
had a high opinion of his ability as an astronomer, and accepted this explan- 
ation. Columbus seems to have been well pleased with it himself; and there 
is no reason to suppose that he ever held any other theory regarding the 
variation of the needle. 

The next day they saw what they believed to be certain indications of 
land. Two birds of different species, neither of which they supposed would 
bo found far from land, hovered about the ships. The next night, a great 
tlamc of tire, as Columbus describes it in his journal — presumably a meteor 
— fell from the sky about four or five leagues away. 

As they sailed along, borne by the trade-winds through a sea of glass, they 
saw the surface of the water flecked, here and there, with great patches 
of sea-weed. These increased in number and size as they advanced; and 
Columbus recalled the accounts of certain mariners who were said to have 
been driven far to the west of the Canaries, and found themselves in the 
mist of a sea covered with great patches of weeds, resembling sunken is- 
lands. Some of these weeds were yellow and withered, while others were 
quite fresh and green ; and on one patch a live crab was found. 

Up to the eighteenth of September this favoring weather continued; and 
the sea, to use the words of Columbus, was as calm as the Guadalquivir at 
Seville. Great enthusiasm prevailed among his followers, lately so filled 
with fear; each ship tried to keep in advance of the others, and each sailor 
hoped to deserve the pension of ten thousand viaravedis which had been 
promised to the fii'st who saw land. 

September 19, Martin Alonzo Pihzon, whose vessel was in the lead, hailed 
the tSan/a Maria, and informed Columbus that from the flight of a great 
number of birds and from the appearance of the sky, he thought there was 
land to the north. But Columbus refused to turn from the course which he 
had marked out; he knew that land was to be reached by sailing due west, 
and in no other direction would he go. Every sailor knows how deceptive 
are the clouds, particularly at sunset; and he felt sure that Pinzon was but 
the victim of such an illusion as often deceives those on the lookout for 
land. 

As the enthusiasm of the sailors began to die down, doubts of the Admiral 
took its place; and they thought that they should never see home again. It 
is true that there had been numy signs of laud; but these had now been 
observed for many days, and still there was no land to be seen. Even the 
favoring wind became a cause for alarm ; on a sea where the wind was forever 
from the east, how were they ever to sail away from the dreaded west? 

But the next day the wind veered, and there was a faint gleam of hope; 
small birds were also oliserved, singing, as if their si i-ength was not exhausted 
bv their flight from the land where they had nested. 



84 THK FIRST VOVACiE OF COI.lMBrS. 

The uext day, there was no wind; but the ships were in the midst of fields 
of weeds, which covered the surface of the water, and impeded tlie progress 
which might have Iieen made had there been any wind. They began to recall 
some vague traditions which had reached even their untutored ears, about 
the lost Atlantis, and the sea made impassable by the submerged land. 

Their fears were not borne out, however, by the soundings; for a deep-sea 
line showed no bottom. 

Columl)us was kept busy arguing against their fears: for as fast as one was 
allayed, another would take its place. If there was wind, they feared a 
stoiin; if there was none, they were forever becalmed; if there were no signs 
of land, they knew that they should never return; if there were signs of land, 
they had been so often deceived that they could not trust again. One great 
source of alarm was the calnmess of the sea, even when there was wind; and 
Columbus could not convince them that this was due to the presence of a 
large body of land in the quarter whence the wind blew; which had not, 
therefore, sufficient space to raise gi'eat waves in the ocean. Finally, on 
Sunday, September 2.'), there was a great swell of the sea, without any wind; 
and the sailors were reassured by this phenomenon, as by something familiar 
to them of old. Columbus piously regarded it as a special mirach^ wrought 
to allay the rising clamors of his crew. 

But this was only temporary relief; the discontent among the crew contin- 
ued, and tluiy resolved that they would go no fartlier. They had now 
ad\anced far beyond the limit reached by other seamen, and would certainly 
be entitled to nuich respect from thcnr actiuaintanccs should they return at 
once. As for Columbus, he had few friends, for he was but a foreigner any- 
how; and even if they felt that they could not rely uiion the nuiuy persons of 
influence who had opposed this enterprise, and who would be glad to learn 
that it had failed, they could easily get rid of the Admiral. If they took 
back the story that he had fallen overboard one night, while busy with his 
instruments and the stars, who but those who threw him into the sea were to 
know that the tale was not true? 

The wind again became favorable, and the ships were enabled to keep so 
close together that a conversation could be maintained between the com- 
manders of the Scnita Maria and the J'iii/n. While this was the state of 
affairs, and Columbus was busily .studying a chart about which they had been 
talking, Martin Alonzo Pinzon suddenly cried out : — 
■ "Land! Land! Senor, I claim my reward I" 

As he spoke, he pointed toward the southwest, where there was indeed an 
appearance of land. So strong were the indications, that even Columbus 
was deceived; and yielding to the insistence of the crews, gave orders that 
(he three vessels should sail in the direction indicate*! l)y Pinzon. Morning 
came, after a night of much excitement and hopeful pressage, and showed 



TWE FIRST VOYAGE OF COLUMBl S. 85 

that what Pinzon had beheld, was but "the baseless faln-ic of a vision," a 
sunset cloud which had passed away during the night. This occurred Sep- 
tember 25; and from this time forward, the sailors appear to have been some- 
what more hopeful; indeed, so frequently was the cry of "Land" uttered 
chat Columbus found it necessary to rule that if any one gave such notice, 
and land was not discovered within three days thereafter, he should forfeit 
all title to the reward, even should he afterward be the first to see land. 

By the first of October, according to the belief of the crew, they had 
reached a point five hundred and eighty-four leagues west of the Canary 
Islands; Columbus knew that they were in reality seven hundred and seven 
leagues from those islands, but he still kept this knowledge to himself. 

October 7, it was thought by those on L ,ard the j\'"iiia that land lay in the 
west; and that vessel crowded all sail to follow the indications; for no one 
dared give notice to the Admiral, for fear of losing the reward. Pressing 
forward, it was not long before a flag was hoisted at the masthead of the 
little ship, and a gun boomed over t'.e waters — the preconcerted signal that 
land had been seen. As before, Columbus fell upon his knees, and repeated 
the Gloria in Excelsis, in which he was joined by all his crew. 

But the end was not yet; as the Nina confidently advanced, to follow up 
the great discovery, with the other vessels close in her wake, it was seen 
that there was no cause for exultation. Again the fancied land was seen to 
be nothing but a cloud on the horizon; and the flag wiiich had been hoisted 
in such proud anticipation was slowly and regretfully hauled down. 

On the evening of this day, he determined to alter slightly the course to 
which he had held so rigidly, and proceed to the west-south-west. This was 
in accordance with the repeated solicitations of the Pinzons, and with his 
own recently conceived idea that there might have been some mistake in cal- 
culating the latitude of Cipango. The fleet kept this course for three days. 

It was the night of the tenth of October when the long repressed mutiny 
of the crew broke forth. Their fears were no longer to be controlled, and 
they demanded that the Admiral should at once return to Spain. It was in 
vain that he urged what signs of land appeared daily; they replied, surlily, 
that such had been seen a month before, and still the watery horizon was 
unbroken by anything but clouds. It is said that Columbus promised them 
that if land were not discovered within three days, he would consent to 
return; but there appears to be no good authority for this story, which was 
probably invented to satisfy those who love to hear of marvelous coinci- 
dences. Nor does it seem likely that Columbus, who had persevered for 
eighteen years in seeking help to fit out this armament, should have been 
willing, after a voyage of but little more than two months, to compromise 
matters in this way. The story rests upon the testimony of a single historian, 
\\ ho is accused of many inaccuracies in other respects. 



S() Tim iiusr \ovA(ii-, m- coi.hmiu's. 

Fimliiif; .siootliing words; and fnir promisos of no avail, Coliinihiis was 
obliged to use a more decided tone. Ho told them that the expedition had 
been sent by the King and Queen to seek the Indies; and that whatever 
might be the result, he was determined to persevere, until, by God's blessing, 
he should ha\ (> fuUilled tlieir commands. 




Ha/ing no auswer ready to oi)po,se to these resolute words, the men drew 
away /rom the leader. We nuiy imagine how they hung together in little 
knots, muttering deep curses against the folly of the man who had brought 
them hither, and almost wailing in tlieir grief I)eeause they wouhl never see 
their country again. IIow often (hiring that night the old sciuMne of throw- 
ing Columbus into the sea was brought up, how often they debated whether 



TIIK llltST ^OVA(iK OF COl.l'.AIlHS. 87 

or not they might not keep him :i prisoner until Spain wa.s reached, how 
often they reckoned over their grievances and many causes for fear, no man 
knows. Morning found them sullen and despairing; their commander was 
still defiant. 

But as the day went on, those signs of land, which the sailors justly said 
had been seen so long as to be completely misleading, became more and 
more certain; fresh weeds, such as grow in rivers, were seen on the surface 
(if the water; then a branch of thorn with berries on it; and finally, a reed, 
a small board and a staff of carved wood. Their gloom and lebellious feel- 
ing gave place to hope; and they were eagerly on the watch throughout the 
day. 

At sunset, the crew, according to their custom, sang the SaJce Ttegina; 
after which Columbus addressed them again. He pointed out to them the 
goodness of God, who had given them, throughout their perilous voyage, 
favoring breezes and a summer sea; he reminded them that when they left 
t he Canaries, he had given orders that after proceeding seven hundred leagues 
to the west, they should not sail after midnight — a jn-oof, as he told them, 
that he had not gone farther than he had then thought it would be necessary, 
lie told them that he thought it probable, from the indications seen that 
day, that they would make land that very night; and he gave orders that a 
vigilant look-out should be kept from the forecastle of each vessel; and he 
promised, in addition to the pension given by the sovereigns, to give a velvet 
doublet to the first who should discover land. 

As the evening closed in, Columbus took his station on the top of the 
castle or cabin on the high poop of his vessel, and kept an unwearied watch 
for land. Throughout the number of followers, there was the same excite- 
ment, greater than had ever before prevailed, even over the false alarms 
given by the Pinzons; for now the Admiral himself, for the first time, was 
confident that they were approaching land. The very failui-es of the others 
gave strength to their trust in Columbus ; and they forgot their rebellious 
clamor of the previous night. 

It was about ten o'clock when Columbus first thought he saw a light glim- 
mering at a great distance — could it indeed be laud? Literally, he could not 
believe his own eyes; but fearing that his hopes deceived him, he called to 
Pedro Gutierrez, a gentleman of the King's bedchamber, and askeil him if 
lie saw a light. The adventurer replied that he did; but still Columbus was 
not convinced. Eodrigo Sanchez was called, and the same question was 
asked him; he answered that he saw none; and both Columbus and Gutierrez 
saw that the light had disappeared. But in a moment more they saw it 
gleam forth again; and it continued to waver thus, as if it were a torch in a 
boat that was tossed on the waves or carried from one hut to another on 
shore. So uncertain was it, that the others were inclined to doubt its reality; 




COI<L-.MBUS ADDREbblM HIb MUN DURING IHb MUTINY 



THE FIRt>T VOYAGE OK COLIMBUS. 5b 

hut Columbus, orce assured that it was not a fiction of his excited iniajrina- 
tiou, Considered these gleams of light as a certain sign that they were 
approaching an inhabited land. 

Contrary to the orders which he had given on leaving the Canaries, they 
did not pause during the night. It was two o'clock when a gun from the 
Pinta gave the signal that land was actually descried. It was about two 
leagues away, and had first been descried by a mariner named Rodrigo de 
Triana; but the pension was adjudged to Columbus himself, as having seen 
the light four hours before the signal was given from the smaller vessel. 

For more than three weary hours they lay to, the waves gently rocking the 
adventurous barks on the smooth warm waters. As day dawned, the dis- 
coverer saw befoi-e him a level island, well-wooded, and apparently several 
leagues in area. The supposition of Columbus that they were approaching 
inhabited land proved to be correct; for the dusky inhabitants thronged the 
shore and stood gazing in wonder at the ships. 

The vessels had come to anchor; and Columbus, attired in a rich suit of 
scarlet, befitting the dignity of the Admiral and Viceroy of India, entered 
this boat, while the two Pinzons entered those belonging to the vessels which 
they commanded. Each boat bore a banner on which was a green cross and 
the initials of the sovereigns Ferdinand and Isabella, surmounted by a crown 
imperial. 

What effect did this splendor of color and glitter of armor produce upon 
the natives? When they first saw the ships, so huge in comparison with 
their own slight canoes, they had been filled with wonder; as the day dawned, 
they beheld the vessels more plainly, and that' they were borne along, 
apparently ^yithout effort, while the great white sails seemed to them like 
wings. As the boats were launched, and came toward the shore, their 
astonishment was changed into terror of the strangers; and they fled into the 
woods. 

Meantime, ("oiuml)us had laiuled; and kneeling upon the earth, he kissed 
the soil of that new world which he had been first to discover, surrounded 
by his now devoted followers. Then he rose and drew his sword, and 
solemnly took possession of the newly discovered country in the name of the 
sovereigns of Castile. He then called upon all his followers to take the oath 
of allegiance to him, as Viceroy and Admiral, the representative of these 
sovereigns. 

As the natives witnessed these ceremonies from their hiding-places on the 
edge of the ^voods, they gradually regaiued confidence, and drew a little 
nearer the strange white men. When they saw that the new-comers seemed 
to have no intention of injuring them, they approached and made signs of 
friendship. These were responded to, and the natives came still nearer, and 
stroked the beards of the Spaniai-ds and examined their hands and faros, 



THE FIRST VOYAGE OK COLUMBUS. 91 

evidently wondering at the whiteness of their skins. All these demonstra- 
tions were preceded and accompanied by frequent prostrations and other 
signs of adoration. To the simple-minded inhabitants of the island, it 
seemed that these men had come in their great M'inged vessels straight from 
the blue heaven which bent over their island, and touched the ocean all 
around them. 

As Colum])us supposed that he had reached India, it was natural that he 
and his followers should speak of the natives of the newly discovered country 
as Indians; a name which was so much used before it was fully ascertained 
that he had reached another continent, that reason has never been able to 
displace it. 

The Indians wore no clothing, but had their bodies painted with various 
colors. Their only arms were lances with beads of sharp flints or fish-bones, 
or hardened at the end by tire. They evidently had no knowledge of 
sharpened iron or steel, for one of them took hold of a sword by the edge 
and cut his hand. They received with eager gratitude the trifles which 
Columbus and his followers presented to them, offering in return balls of 
cotton yarn, tame parrots, and cassava bread. These, however, were not the 
articles of traffic which the Spaniards had come so far to procure; the small 
golden ornaments which some of the natives wore in their noses were of 
much greater interest than their twenty-pound bulls of cotton, and Columbus 
at once made inquiry regarding the source from which they were derived. 

He learned that these precious ornaments came from the southwest, where 
there dwelt a king who was always served in vessels of tine gold. Much 
more has the great discoverer set down of the same kind, but it is probable 
that he deceived himself in nmch of what he understood them to tell him by 
signs. He felt assured that he had now reached the outlying islands of Asia, 
and was near the counti-ies of falndous riches of which Marco Polo had 
written; and he readily believed that the gestures of these naked Indians 
indicated much more than the savages tried to express. 

The island, which Columbus thoroughly explored, was named San Salvador. 
Around it lay beautiful and fertile islands, so that he was at a loss which to 
choose as the next to be explored. He set sail two days after landing, taking 
with him seven of the natives, to whom he proposed to teach the Spanish 
language, that they might serve as interpreters. As these became better able 
to communicate with him by signs, and understood more clearly what 
information ho wished to obtain, he learned that he was in the midst of an 
archipelago, numbering more islands than the limited arithmetical skill of 
the savages could reckon. They enumerated more than a hundred, and gave 
him to understand that they were all well peopled, and that the inhabitants 
were frequently at war with each other. All this was in full accordance with 
what Columbus had heard of the islands about the eastern coast of Asia. 



Till-: KIKST VOYA(iK OK ( Ol.l M BUS. 93 

Several islands were visited in succession, but without finding the vust 
stores of gold which they had understood from the natives Avei-e in the pos- 
session of their neighbors. They learned, however, that their coming was 
regarded as a wonderful event by the natives, as a single Indian in a canoe 
was taken into one of the sliips, and found to be a messenger dispatched to 
carry the news among tlie different islands. How many similar messengers 
were dispatched, the Spaniards did not know; but they were less pi'oud of 
their own courage in venturing across the ocean when they reflected that this 
naked savage had entered upon a voyage of such length and danger in his 
frail canoe without a single companion to assist him in storms or tell of his 
fate if he should perish. 

Wherever lie went, Columbus heard of an island of much greater extent 
than any that he had seen, caih-dCuba; and he determined that this must be 
the long-sought Cipango. He determined to set sail to this favored country; 
but his departure from the smaller islands was delayed for some days by calms 
and contrary winds. It was the 28tli of October before he finally reached the 
coast of the Queen of the Antilles. In his journal, Columbus seems never 
tired of expatiating upon the beauty of the islands which were now seen by 
Europeans for the first time; their mild climate, the smoothness of the 
waters in which these jewels of ocean were set, the majesty of the forests, 
the beauty of the birds, the magnificence of the flowers, even the glittering 
sparkle of the insects, are constantly the subjects of his praise. 

While coasting along Cuba, Martin Alonzo Pinzon learned fi-om some na- 
tives that there was a country in the interior called Cubanacan. Later re- 
searches have developed the fact that nacan is simply the native word mean- 
ing the interior, so that Cubanacan means only the interior part of Cuba; but 
the heated imagination of Pinzon connected this name with the word Khan, 
and the amazing discovery was communicated to Columbus. The discoverer 
at once concluded that he was mistaken in supposing Cuba to be Cipango, or 
Japan ; it was a part of the mainland, and he was now in the territories of the 
Great Khan. 

The Admiral settled it in his own mind that he was about a hundred leagues 
from the capital of this mighty potentate, and resolved to sentl embassadors 
to him at once. Two envoys were selected; one of them a converted Jew, 
who was acquainted with Hebrew and Chaldaic, and had some knowledge of 
Arabic, in which language, it was supposed, he would be able to communi- 
cate with some one in the court of the Khan. These embassadors were in- 
structed to inform the Khan that Columbus had been sent by the King and 
Queen of Spain, for the purpose of establishing friendly relations between 
the powers ; they were also to ascertain exactly the situation of certain ports, 
provinces, and rivers; and they were to find out if certain drugs and spices, 
of which they were provided with samples, were produced in that country. 



'M TIIK FIRST VnVA(!K Ol' COLUMHUS. 

While awaiting the return of these embassadors, Columbus occupied liim- 
self in attending to the necessary repairs of his vessels. Having arranget! 
for this work, ho spent some time in the exploration of the interior; ami 
again received much remarkable information from the natives. We cannot 
help suspecting that tlio natives found Columbus such a willing listener that 
they indulged their imaginations considerably; for they gravely assured iiini 
that there were tribes at a distance, of men who had but one eye; that there 
were others who had the heads of dogs, and that there were still. others who 
were cannibals, killing their victims l)y cutting their throats and drinking 
their blood. jNIinglcd with these stoi-ies, weic acH-ountsof a place which they 
called Boliio, where they declared that the peoph' wore anklets and bracelets 
and necklaces of gold and pearls. 

While Columl)us was being thus al)ly entertained by the Indians of the 
coast of Cuba, his embassadors had penetrated to the interior in searchof the 
capital of Kublai Khan. They returned Nov. (>, having reached a point 
twelve leagues from the coast, and learned there that there was nothing of 
interest beyond it. The village which was the capital of Cubanacan contained 
about fifty huts, and at least a thousand inhabitants. The envoys had been 
treated with courtesy and hospitality, though, to their surprise, they found 
that Hebrew and Arabic were but gibberish to the natives, and were obliged 
to rely upon the services of an Indian who had occompanied them, and who 
had picked up a little smattering of Spanish. They saw no gold or precious 
stones; and when the white men displayed their samples of cinnamon, pep- 
per, and similar commodities, they were informed that such things grew far 
off to the southwest. 

During their absence, Coluniltus had become aciiiiainted with the proper- 
ties of a plant, which, one of his biographers justly observes, was destined 
to bo of more real value to the people of the eastern continent than all the 
precious metals that have been mined in the New World. This was the po- 
tato. The embassadors sent into the intei-ior saw in use a i)lant which lias 
not, indeed, the wide usefulness of the potato, but which has become 
necessary to the comfort of many of the while race. This was tobacco, the 
name of which is derived from the Indian word designating a sort of rude 
cigar; the term being applied by the Spaniards to the plant and its dried 
leaves. The strangers at tirst regarded this practice of smoking as singular 
and nauseous; but as it is said of vice that — 

"\Vr first endure, then pity, tlien embrace," 

so the white men were taught by curiosity to learn what the Indian found in 
tobacco that was pleasant, and speedily acquired the habit. 

Columbus was now convinced, l)y the report of his envoys, that he was not 
within such a short distance of the capital of the Khan. He still listened 



TirE FIRST VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS. 95 

eagerly, however, to the talcs which the Indians had to tell of Babcqiin and 
Bohio, although he was not quite certain whether these terms applied to the 
same place or not. He decided to go in .search of Babeque, which he hoped 
to liud the name of some rich and populous island off the coast of Asia. 
Later researches into the language of the natives of these islands have not 
made it wholl.v clear what they intended to convey by these two words ; accord- 
ing to some authorities, they ai'c names applied to the coast of the mainland; 
others that bohio means house, or populousness. 

November 12, the little tlcct weighed anchor, and sailed eastward along the 
coast of Cuba. A storm obliged them to take refuge in a harbor to which 
Columbus gave the name of Puerto del Principe, and several days were spent 
in exploring that cluster of small and beautiful islands which have since been 
called El Jardin del Rey, " The Garden of the King." On the 19th, he again 
put to sea, and for two days made ineffectual efforts to reach an island which 
lay about twenty leagues to the eastward, supposing it to be Babeque. Find- 
ing this impossible, on the evening of the second day he put his ship about, 
and made signals for the others to (h) the same. The Pinta was considerably 
to the eastward of the Santa Maria and the JSfina, and, to the surprise of 
the Admiral, failed to answer the signals or comply with the commands which 
they indicated. He repeated the signals; butstillthe Finta paid no attention. 
Night came on; and hoisting signal lights at the masthead of the iSanfa 
Maria, so that the Pinta could easily follow through the darkness, he sailed 
on.ward. Morning came, but nothing was to be seen of the Pinta. 

Columbus was not a little disquieted by this action of Pinzon. The rich 
navigator of Palos, who had furnished a large part of the money required for 
the expedition, and without whose aid (.'olumbus would probably have beeii 
obliged to seek assistance at some other court than that of Spain, was fully 
aware of the importance of the services which he had rendered to the Gen- 
oese adventurer. Thoroughly familiar with the theories of Columbus, he had 
adopted them as his own, and probably came gradually to consider them as 
nuich his property as they were the foreigner's. Several times, during the 
voyage, there had been serious differences of opinion between Columbus and 
his chief subordinate; and when the Admiral saw that the P/?)^a had thus 
deserted the flag-ship, he suspected that Pinzon intended to return to Spain 
at once and claim all the honors due to the successful prosecutor of this great 
enterprise. 

But Columbus was not to be deterred from his purpose of discovering the 
rich and populous parts of the far east; he continued coasting along the 
northern line of Cuba until, Dec. 5, he reached the eastern extremity, to 
which he gave the name of Alpha and Omega, supposing it to be the eastern 
point of Asia. He was now undetermined what course to pursue. Return 
to Spain would be uuadvisable at this season of the year; and so far as the 



!>t; THE FIRST VOYAGE OF COLIMBIS. 

Pinla was coucerncd, she was so much swifter sailer than the otiier vessels, 
aiul had the start of them by many hours, that it was useless.to think of chas- 
ing her across the Atlantic. If he kept along the coast, following its trend 
to the southwest, he might find the country of the Khan ; but then he could 
not liojjc to reach Babeque, which his Indian guides now assured him lay to 
the northeast. 

Thus undecided, he continued cruising aimlessly for some days in the waters 
around the eastern end of Cuba; and at last descried land to the southeast, 
which he decided to make. The natives protested against his seeking to do 
so, assuring him that the people were tierce and cruel cannibals. But these 
remonstrances were unheeded, and Columbus steered toward Hayti. 

He anchored in a harbor at the western end of the island, to which he gave 
the name wliich it still retains — St. Nicholas. As they explored the northern 
coast of the island, they caught many fish, several species of which were sim- 
ilar to those which the sailors had taken in Spanish waters; thej' heard from 
the wooded shore the notes of song-birds which reminded them of the night- 
ingale and other birds of Andalusia; and they fancied the}' saw, in the beauti- 
fully diversified country, sotno resemblance to the more beautiful parts of 
Spain. Accordingly, Columbus named the island Hispaniola, or little Spain. 

While exploring the island, Columbus found plants and birds of much 
different si)ecies and more abundant than those he had seen in p]urope. 
Animals were also less rare, more various, and of greater size; amongst 
others the iguana, a sort of gigantic lizard, whose likeness to the cro<-odile, 
or at least to the representations of it then extant, nuide some of the crew 
mistake it for one of those dreadful monsters. Glad to make use of his 
courage in reassuring his men, who were frightened at everything that was 
new, Columbus did not hesitate to attack this beast; he rushed at him with 
uplifted sword, and pursuing him into the waters of the lake, did not conu' 
out until, to the universal satisfaction, he had made an end of him. The 
skin which he carried back with him to Europe, measured seven feet in 
length, much more than the average length. 

Columbus must have smiled at the recollection of this exploit, when he 
found out that this terrible-looking beast, with its enormous crop, its long 
and powerful tail, its spine notched like a saw, its sharp claws, is as harm- 
less as our common lizard, and is even esteemed a great delicacy by the In- 
dians. 

The natives hail abandonetl their villages and fled into the interior at the 
approach of the vessels, leaving their cultivated fields aiul large village^-. 
Columbus sent well-armed parties in search of them, and one such party suc- 
ceeded in capturing a young woman, who was induced by presents of clothes, 
trifling ornaments, and trinkets, and by the kind treatment which she experi- 
enced, to act as embassador to her people. It was no difficult matter after 



THE FIRST VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS. 



97 



this to secure the j^rcsence of large numbers of the natives, who were well 
disposed toward the strangers when they found that there need be no fear of 
them. 




The Fight with the Iguana. 

They were frequently visited by chiefs of various degrees of importance; 
and, Dec. 22, received a message from a chief named Guacanagari, borne 
by a number of natives, ,who filled one of the largest canoes that the Span- 
iards had as yet seen. This cacique, as the chiefs of these islands are called 
by Columbus, asked that the ships might be brought to a point opposite his 
village, which was a little farther east than the point where they then were. 
But the wind was not favorable, and Columbus had to content himself with 
sending a deputation to visit Guacanagari, by whom they were received with 
great state and honor. But, as before, the Spaniards learned from this chief 
7 



!t8 TIIK IIKST VOYAOE OF COH'MBIS. 

notliiiifi of tlie vant stores of treasure for which they weic >cekin^': mid 
although the eaeiquc and his followers freely gave them any of their few 
golden ornaments, it was evident that these were not drawn from any mine 
worked by (iuaeanagari and his tribe. 

The envoys returned, bearing the most friendly messages with them; am! 
as soon as the wind proved favoral)le, Columbus gave orders that the two 
vessels should sail toward the village of Guacanagari. His hopes had again 
been raised ])y the statements of various minor caciques who had visited him 
during the absence of his messengers, and who talked much of a place whicli 
they called Cibao, the cacique of which had banners of wrought gold. To the 
ears of the great discoverer this name was nearly enough like Cipango to 
mi.slead him completely; and he believed that at last he had come upon the 
traces of that nuxgnilicent prince mentioned by Marco Polo, whose wealth ex- 
ceeded even that of the ruler of Cathay. 

It was the morning of December 24 that the two vessels departed from 
their resting-place to proceed toward the residence of the cacique. The 
wind was so light as hardly to fill the sails, and they made but little progress. 
At eleven o'clock that Christmas eve, they were about four or five niiles 
from the harbor wlicrc tlie caci((ue's village was situated; the sea was 
calm and smooth, and tlic coast had been so explored by the party of mes- 
sengers that Columbus felt no fears regarding rocks or othi-r sources of 
danger. He according retired to the rest which he had earned by sleepless 
nights spent in watching the course of the vessels along an unknown coa.st. 

Scarcely had he fallen asleep, before the helmsman, in defiance of the com- 
mander's plain orders, gave the helm over to a boy, antl himself went to 
sleep. It was not long before the whole crew of the Santa Marin was locked 
in slumber; the only wakeful one being the boy at the helm. 

The currents along this coast are swiftand strong; and when the shij) was 
once in the power of one of them, she was swept rapidly along. To older or 
more heedful ears the sound of the breakers would have given warning of 
the danger: but the boy thought nothing of what he was doing. Silently 
and swiftly the current ]>ore the ship upon a sand-bank; suddenly the boy- 
helmsman felt the rudder strike, and heard the tumult of the rushing sea. 
Frightened, he called loudly for help; the Admiral, a light sleeper, and 
always feeling the responsibility which rested upon him, was the first upon 
deck, followed hastily liy the sailors who had been sleeping when they should 
have watched, and by those others who were not on duty. He cpiickly gave 
orders to carry an anchor astein, that by this means the vessel might be 
warped off The boat was launched, and the men detailed for the pur- 
pose entered it; but cither, insane from fright, they misunder.stood the order, 
or i)urposely disobeyed it , l)y seeking their own safety first, and at once rowed 
off toward the other vessel, which lay half a league to windward. 



TIIH FIRST VOVA(JE OF (OLUiMBlJS. 9^ 

The Snvta Maria had swung across the stream, and lay helpless, the 
water continually gaining upon her. The Admiral gave orders that the mast 
should be cutaway; hoping to lighten her so that she would be carried off 
the bar before anymore serious damage was done. The order was obeyed; 
])ut the keel was too firndy bedded in the sand for this measure to prove 
effective. The shock had opened several seams, through which the water 
entered in large quantities. The breakers struck her with force again and 
again, until she lay over on her side. Had the weather been less calm, this 
vessel, the largest of the armament which a queen had fitted out for the dis- 
covery of a New World, would have gone to pieces on the shore of that far- 
away island. 

In the meantime, the boat had reached the caravel Nina and given 
information of the condition of the larger vessel. The commander of the 
caravel reproached the sailors for their desertion of the leader in such mis- 
fortunes, and immediately dispatched a boat to his relief. Columbus and 
iiis crew, took refuge on board the Nina until morning, and envoys were 
at once sent off to inform the cacique of what had happened. 

Guacanagari showed great distress at the misfortunes of his expected 
visitors; nor did he confine himself to mere words of sympathy and con- 
dolence, but showed himself active in measures for their relief. All the 
canoes that could be mustered were pressed into service, and all his people 
assisted in unloading the vessel. The lading was stored near the palace of 
the cacique, and an armed guard placed around it to prevent depredations; 
tlie cacique and his brothers having kept close watch while the work of 
unloading was going on, to prevent the helpers from being overcome by 
temptation to help themselves to these wonderful things. 

To Columbus and his companions, this course appeared unnecessai'y; so 
nuich sympathy with the shipwrecked sailors was shown by all who, at the 
command of the chief, were engaged in assisting them; and Columbus after- 
ward bore this testimony to their character, in his Journal : — 

"So loving, so tractable, so peaceable are these people that I swear to your 
majesties there is not in the world a better nation, nor a better land. They 
love their neighbors as themselves ; and their discourse is eter sweet and 
gentle, and accompanied with a smile; and though it is true that they are 
naked, yet their manners are decorous and praiseworthy." 

The day aftet Christmas, Columbus was visited on board the Nina by 
Guacanagari, who assured him again of his eagerness to render the Spaniards 
any assistance which lay in his power. 

The Admiral, who was at dinner when he came on board, observes in his 
journal with regard to this visit, that the cacique would not allow him when 
lie entered the cabin to rise or use any ceremony, and that, when invited to 
partake of any dish, he took just as much as was necessary for him not to 



L.o^ 



100 THE FIKST VUYAliK OK COLUMBUS. 

appear impolite. Hedid the same if auytbing was giveu him to drink; he 
put it to his lips, merely tasted it, and sent it to his followers. His air and 
his movements were remarkably grave and dignified. 




TitK Grateful Cacique. 

His dignity and discretion, however, were not proof against all the attrac- 
tions that surrounded him. While, with the help of the Indians he had 
brought with him as interpreters from San Salvador, Columbus was enter- 
taining his royal guest, he noticed that the cacique turned his eyes again and 
again, as if in spite of himself, on the quilt that covered his bed. Columbus, 
seeing this, hastened to present him with the coveted object, together with a 
pair of red shoes and a necklace of amber beads. The gratitude of the 
cacique and his officers knew no bounds, and there is no doubt that these 



THE FIRST VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS. 101 

gifts did more to exalt the power and grandeur of Spain and her sovereigns 
iu their eyes than all the words of Columbus and his interpreters on that 
subject. While they were conversing, a canoe arrived from another part of 
the island, bringing bits of gold to be exchanged for small bells, such as 
were worn by the hawk used at that time in hunting. To the Indians, these 
appeared the most desirable articles which the Spaniards had to distribute 
among them ; they hung the bells on their arms and legs when preparing for 
the dances of which they were so fond, and which were performed to the 
cadence of certain songs. They had found that the Spaniards valued gold 
more than anything which their savage treasuries contained, and readily 
brought all that they had to exchange for the wonderful musical bells. 

Sailors mIio had been on shore, trading, informed Columbus that gold was 
easily obtained in trade with the natives; and this restored the dro(jping 
spirits of the Admiral to something of their normal state. The cacique saw 
the change in his countenance, and inquired what good news the sailors had 
brought. He was told how desirous the Admiral was of obtaining the yellow 
metal; and replied that there was a place not far off, among the mountains, 
where it could be obtained in large quantities. He promised to get as much 
as Columbus might desire, the metal being there in such abundance, he said, 
that it was not held as very valuable. This jjlace he called Cibao; and 
Columbus at once recognized this name, and again confounded it with 
Cipango. 

When Guacanagari had been entertained by Columbus, he insisted that the 
Admiral should be his guest on shore. The request was giUnted ; and the 
guest received such honor and sympathy as to make him admire the kindly 
yet dignified savage chieftain more than ever. In return for the cacique's 
efforts at entertaining him, he sent on board the ship for a skilled archer and 
his arms, and showed the assembled Indians the accuracy of such weapons. 
The people of Guacanagai-i were of so unwarlike a nature that they had no 
similar skill to display; but the cacique informed Columbus that the Caribs, 
who sometimes made forays upon them, had bows and arrows which they 
used with deadly precision. Columbus assured the chief that he had nothing 
more to fear from the Caribs, for the great monarchs of Spain had weapons 
far more terrible than these, which they would not hesitate to use in the de- 
fense of a people who had assisted their Admiral. To illustrate his words, 
he ordered an arquebus and a heavy cannon to be discharged. 

To the Indians, it seemed that a thunderbolt had fallen from a clear sky; 
and they fell prostrate on their faces in terror. When they had recovered a 
little, Columbus called their attention to the place where the cannon-ball had 
crashed through the trees, carrying away gi'eat branches; and they were filled 
with renewed dismay. But he assured them that these arms would not be 
used against them, but for their protection against the cruel and dreaded 



lO'J TIIK VIUST VOYACK OK COI.L'MRUS. 

Ciiribs; iiiiil secure in llie frieiidsliij) of these children of lifriit who were 
anned witli thunder from their nativi^ sUies, tlie sinipl<^ savages were more 
than content. 

The fame of the hawn-r-.-cns nad gone abi-oad, and there was not an Indian 
wlu) liad a golden ornament ^s'ho was not more than willing to trade it for 
one of these precnous articles. Las Casas, whose work is one of the chief 
authorities regarding tliis part of tiie life of Columbus, tells us that one In- 
dian offered a handful of gold-dust in exchange for one; and when the trade 
had l)een made, hurried off as fast as his feet would carry him, lest the Span- 
iards should regret that they had sold it so cheap. 

The Spaniards who had endured so many hardships and dangers became 
enamored of tiie easy, luxurious life which the Indians led; in a land where 
the earth produced, almost spontaneously, roots and fruits enough to feed 
more than the inhabitants, where there was evidently no winter to be feared, 
where shelter and clothing were looked upon as unnecessary, where the main 
part of the day was passed in indolent repose, and the main part of the night 
in dancing to the music of their songs or the beating of their rude drums, the 
Indians were indeed creatures to be envied. Gradually the sailors came to 
long to shai'e this life, so full of case and enjoyment, and Columbus formed 
the idea of establishing a colony of those who wished to renuiin; while he. 
with his one vessel and a small crew, would return to Spain to carry the news 
of his discovery — unless he had been anticipated by thecaptain of the Pinta — 
and to procure the needed supplies and reinforcements. Ilail the natives 
been less peaceable and friendly, such a course would have been the height 
of madness; but armed as the Spaniards were with cannon and smaller tire- 
arms, and surrounded by those whose chief wish seemed to be to minister to 
the white strangers, there ai)pearedto be no difficulty in the way. 

But he did not propose to take any unnecessary risks; the stranded vessel 
was to lie broken up to afford materials for a fortress; and it was to be armed 
with her guns. Provisions enough could be spared from the general stock to 
maintain a small garrison for a year; so that whatever change there might be 
in the feelings of the natives, the white men who were left behind would be 
entirely safe. He intended that they should occupy themselves with explor- 
ing the island and becoming acquainted with the location and extent of the 
gold mines on which they all laid such stress, and in trading with the natives 
for whatever of the precious metal they might possess. At the same time, 
they could learn the language of the countrj' more perfectly, so that com- 
munication would be easier and surer; and acquaintthemselves with tiie habits 
and customs of the people, so as to make future intercourse all the smoother. 

Columbus did not suppose that the fortress, except under very improbable 
circumstances, would be necessary for the defense of his followers from the 
natives; for the latter had too clearly proven their un warlike nature and their 



THE FIRST VOYACiE OF COLt;.MBUS. 103 

friendly disposition; but he considered that some sort of niilitar}' organiza- 
tion and i-ound of required duties was necessary to keep the Spaniards in good 
order during the absence of a ruler specially appointed by the Crown, and to 
enable those who were disposed to do what was right by the natives to hold 
in check those who might otherwise have proved tyrannical, unprincipled, and 
cruel. 

For the discoverer, who was so enchanted with the beauty of nature and 
the character of the inhabitants in this New World, entertained fond hopes 
that all these people would speedily be converted to the Christian faith. 
AVlierever he had gone, he had found them of the same gentle, loving dispo- 
sition, ready to listen eagerly to whatever the strangers could make them un- 
derstand, and readily learning by rote such prayers asthe sailors taught them, 
and making the sign of the cross with becoming devoutness of aspect. This 
is not the place to discuss the good done by prayers which are not understood 
by those who utter them ; but it is a fact that these Spaniards of the fifteenth 
century thought they had done good when they taught an Indian the Latin 
words of a prayer, of the meaning of which the savage had not the slightest 
conception ; and which may have been rather hazy to the Spaniard. Columbus 
looked eagerly forward to the time when all these untaught savages should 
receive the rite of baptism, believing that that was all that was necessary to 
make them good Christians. Throughout the time that he had sought assist- 
ance in working out his theory, he had held fast to the idea of advancing the 
dominion of the Church; and this feeling was probably at the bottom of his 
reasons for seeking assistance from Spain. Isabella was known for a de- 
vout Catholic, and ardent in the cause of religion; hence, although the 
country was convulsed with civil war, he sought assistance from her, rather 
than from the cold and crafty men who sat on the thrones of France and 
England. 

The project of building a fortress and leaving a colony was broached to the 
natives, who were enrapture<l with the plau. That the wonderful white men 
who had come from heaven with their thunderous weapons should remain to 
protect them from their dreaded enemies the Caribs, while the Admiral re- 
turned to the skies for more white men and hawks' bells, was almost too good 
to be true; and they eagerly assisted in building the fortress. 

A site was chosen, the wreck was broken up and brought to shore. A large 
vault was to be dug, and over this a strong wooden tower was to be erected ; 
finally, the whole was to be surrounded by a wide and deep ditch, with the 
usual draw-bridge. In the vault were to be stored such supplies of arms, 
ammunition, and food as should be brought from the wreck, and could be 
sjiared by those who were about to undertake the homeward voyage. 

So industriously did the Spaniards push the work, and so eagerly did the 
many natives assist them, that the whole fortress was completed in ten days 



104 . THE FIRST VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS. 

from the time that Columbus had given orders to begin it. He gave it the 
name of 7>« Xavidad, or the Nativity, because tliey had been rescued from 
the wreck of the vessel on Christmas Day. Having concluded tiic account 
of the building of this tower, the devout Admiral points out the oaro which 
Providence had exercised over his voyage; so that even the shipwreck, which 
appeared at the time to be such a great misfortune, was the cause of his find- 
ing what riches lay hid in the island, where otherwise he would only have 
touched at the coast and gone farther on. As seen more clciirlybytiiose who 
have a knowledge of later events, the wreck of the >San(a Maria appears the 
misfortune which it seemed at first; since because of it Columbus devoted so 
much of his time and attention, in lateryears, to this very island, and suffered 
much because of his connection Avith it. 

"While they were engaged in building the fortress, some Indians brought 
word that a large vessel, like that of Columbus, had been seen in a harbor at 
the eastern end of the island. There could be but one explanation of this: 
it must be the 7*/n/a. Columbus at once sent a Spaniard, with a crew of 
natives in a native canoe, to take a letter to Pinzon, urging him to join com- 
pany at once, but making no complaint regarding his desertion, or saying a 
word that was not entirely friendly. A close search, however, by these mes- 
sengers, failed to disclose the presence of any such vessel; and they returned 
to the Admiral. Other rumors reached them of a ship like theirs, but Co- 
lumbus resolved to take no further steps toward searching for the lost vessel 
until something more definite should be heard. 

In the meantime, it was a subject of much anxiety to Columbus, how the 
voyage back to Spain would be accomplished. The Pinta, the swiftest of 
the ships, had deserted, and they knew nothing of her fate; she might have 
escaped across the ocean, or she might have been wrecked on the shore of 
some distant island, or she might have foundered at sea and gone down with 
all on board. The Santa Maria, the largest of his ships, had been wrecked 
and destroyed. There remained only the Nina, which really was fit onl}' for 
coasting. Indeed, it was not wholly because Columbus had feared to demand 
large ships that he had accepted snuxll ones; he had selected those which 
seemed to him best fitted for coasting and for tracing an intricate course in 
channels between islands. 

But the JVina was not the vessel in which any sane sailor would have wished 
to cross the Atlantic without a consort; much less was it one to which a man 
who had labored and waited for a score of years to secure the realization of 
his dreams would wish to entrust the fulfillment of those dreams. For, 
should the jVina be lost on tiie homeward voyage, what record would remain 
of Columbus? It would only be known that he maintained a theory which 
the most learned men of Spain condemned as impracticable; that he had 
sailed into the western ocean, and had been lost there, as they had predicted. 




TllE (JOLUMBUS BUOXZE DOOKS IX THE CaTITOL AT W ASHIXG TO.V . (105) 



lOii IIIK I'THSC NOVAtiK <)l' COIA'.M lil S. 

Return he must, liowi'vor; jiiid pi-opar:itioiis for the hoiiicwiinl voyage were 
begun about the same time as tlu- fortress. Thirty-nine persons were selected 
to remain behind at La Navidad, while the others, numbering a few more, 
sailed eastward again. Minute instructions were given the colonists, to treat 
the natives always with gentleness and justice, remembering how much they 
were indebted to Guacanag;iri; to keep together, for mutual safety, and not 
stray beyond the territories of the caciciue who had so befriended them; and 
to acquire a knowledge of the productions and mines of the island, to pro- 
cure as much gold and spice as possible by trading, and to seek a better situ- 
ation for a settlement, as this harbor was far from being a safe one. The 
boat of the Saitfa Maria was left with them, as well as a variety of seeds to 
sow, and a quantity of articles to be used in traffic. A commandant of the 
post was appointed in the name of the sovereigns, and two lieutenants, upon 
whom, su(^cessively, the command was to devolve in case of his death. 
Having made all arrangoments for the safety and well-being of the colony, as 
far as such arrangements could be made by any man, Columbus, on the 4th 
of January, 1493, sailed from Ilispaniola eastward across the broad ocean: 
five months and one day after he left Palos. 

Thestudent of idle superstitions may well remark the recurrence of a cei'- 
tain day of the week in the history of this first voyage of Columbus; it was 
on Friday that he set sail from Palos; it was on Friday that he first saw the 
shores of Guanahani, the first land of the New World on which his eyes 
rested; and it was on Friday that he left Ilispaniola on his return. Thesixth 
day of the week is far from being considered a day on which to begin great 
undertakings; but the, greatest event of modern times is thus associated with 
it. 

The first two days of the return voyage were without event; on the third, 
the lookout gave the cry that he saw the Pin/a at a distance. The report 
was an animating one; for there was not a man on board but fully realized 
the dangers of their long and lonely voyage. 

The J'iiifa hastened toward them as soon as the yina was descried by her 
lookout; and conversation proving impracticable l)y reason of the state of 
the weather, the two vessels, at the command of the leader of the expedition, 
put back to the bay a little west of what is now called Monte Christi. Here 
the Admiral and his chief subordinate lauded, and here was told the story of 
the 7^('»/a's adventures. According to Martin AlonzoPinzon's account, he 
had been compelled to part company by stress of weather, and had ever since 
been seeking to rejoin his companions. Columbus received this statement 
without contradiction, although he did not believe it from the first ; and made 
investigations afterward which brought the truth to his ears. One of the In- 
dians on board the Pinia had given information of a gold-bearingcountry to 
the eastward which had excited the imagination of the master; he had taken 



THE FIRST VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS. 107 

advantage of circumstances to sepai-ate from the others, and had sought to be 
tlie first to discover this rich country. For some days he sailed about among 
a group of small islands, unable to shape his course so as to avoid them; but 
the Indians had tinally conducted him to Hispaniola; the rumors that Colum- 
l)us had heard were not wholly false, altiiough unreliable, or perhaps misun- 
derstood, in their statements of localities. Pinzon had remained three weeks 
near the shore of this island, and had collected by trading no small amount 
of gold; half of this he had retained for himself, half had been divided 
among his crew, to insuretheir silence regarding the transaction. But Colum- 
bus, even though the treachery of Pinzon could be clearly proved, could as 
yet take no steps to punish him in any way, or even appear to disbelieve his 
assertions. Many of the sailors were I'elatives or townsmen of Pinzon, and 
a break with him, at this juncture, might have been fatal to Columbus. 

A supply of wood and water was procured for the voyage, and the twc ves- 
sels coasted a short distance along the shore which had been explored by 
Pinzon. Arrived at the mouth of a river which Columbus named Rio de 
Gracia, but which is now Porto Caballo, the Admiral received news that his 
lieutenant had, during the period of his desertion, carried off four men and 
two girls from amongthe Indians of that section. The complaint was inves- 
tigated, and it was found that the captives were on board the Pinta, and that 
it was the intention of that vessel's commander to take them to Spain 
and sell them as slaves. The Admiral at once gave orders that they should 
be released and returned to their own people; being clothed and given many 
presents as a kind of restitution for the temporary loss of their liberty. 
This proceeding was not conducted without protest from Pinzon, and we shall 
find, as we proceed, that Columbus learned to look with less horror upon the 
l)roject of selling Indians as slaves; but at this time he was careful to take 
none with him but those who voluntarily accompanied him. 

As they continued their course along the coast, they came to an arm of the 
sea extending so far into the laud that at first they supposed it to be a chan- 
nel separating the island of Hispaniola from some other near neighbor; but 
it proved to be only a gulf. On the farther side of this inlet, they found a 
people differing very much from those others with whom the discoverer was 
so much pleased. These were of a ferocious aspect, and hideously painted ; 
they were armed with war-clubs, or with bows as large as those used by 
English archers, the arrows being made of slender reeds and tipped with 
bone or with the tooth of a fish. They also had swords of palm-wood, the 
weight iind hardness of which excited the wonder of the Spaniards. Though 
ferocious in appearance, and thus armed, they did not seem hostile, but sold 
two of their bows to the Spaniards, and one of them was induced to go upon 
the Admiral's vessel. 

He was sent back with many presents, to induce his comrades to trade with 



108 THE FIRST VOYAGE OF COLU5IBUS. 

the Si):uiiar(ls. The men in the boat whieh conveyed him luiek to land were 
aUirnied at tlie ^^ight of ahoiit fifty fully armed warriors, who gathered on the 
shore; but at a word from the savage in the boat, they laid down their arms 
and eamc to meet the white men. Suddenly, in the midst of a peaceful con- 
ference, they rushed toward the spfit where they had left their arms, and 
returned with A quantity- of strong cord, as if to bind the strangers. The 
latter at once attacked them, wounding two. The others took to flight. The 
Spaniards would have pursued them, but the pilot who commanded the boat 
forbade it. Such was the first conflict between the natives and the people of 
southern Europe; if Ave I'cgard the fight of which the old saga tells as 
unworthy of credit, the first on the soil of America between Indians and 
white men. 

Columl)us had been so anxious to keep the peace with all the natives, that 
he was much troubled at the occurrence of this fight; but he consoled himself 
by thinking that the Indians had now had a taste of the superiority of the 
white men's weapons, and would be careful how they attacked theni in the 
future. lie was pleased to find that the enmity of the Indians had not been 
excited by this occurrence, as they returned the next day and api)eared more 
desirous than ever of being friends. They told him of the islands to the east 
in such terms that Columbus decided to stop there, and pi-evailed upon four 
of their young men to accompany him as guides. 

Following their guidance, Columbus at first steered to the northeast, then 
to the southeast; but he had gone but about fifty miles in all when there 
sprang up a breeze which, it seemed to him and his sailors, would waft them 
straight to Spain. Ho saw the discontent on their faces as they thought how 
far from the direct line of the homeward path they were diverging; he con- 
sidered how shaky was the allegiance of Pinzon; and how uncertain was the 
fate of either vessel, should it be exposed to even an ordinary storm among 
these many islands. lie considered that the whole fate of the path which he _ 
had marked out to India depended upon his safe arrival on the eastern shore 
of the Atlantic; and repressing all desire for further exploration of the 
islands which he ha<l discovered, he gave orders to shift sail and make direct 
for Spain. 

The outward voyage had been full of doubts and anxieties; had it been 
through one-tenth of the ditticulties and dangers which beset the homeward 
voyage, the Kew AVorld would have remained undiscovered; for the rebellion 
of the crew would have been determined enough to have broken even the 
iron resolution of Columbus. 

The trade-winds which bad so prospered the outward Aoyage were of course 
unfavorable to their return; and it was not until they had run far to the 
north, and got completely out of the track of these winds, that they were 
enabled to make anv headway. So often had they changed their course to 



THE FIRST VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS. 



109 



take advantage of the least wind that promised to bear them homeward, that 
the pilots had lost their reckoning completely; and could no more agree with 
each other than they could guess at the true situation. Columbus alone 
retained a clear idea of where they were, having powers of minute observa- 
tion which often caused his conclusions to seem little short of inspirations; 
but he did not enlighten the pilots ; since he wished to be the only man who 
had a clear idea of the route followed in crossing the Atlantic. 




ULl AlBUS. 



While they were yet in the midst of the Atlantic, barely two-thirds of their 
voyage done, they were looking for land, supposing themselves to be in about 
the latitude of the Madeira Islands. Columbus knew that they were more 
nearly in a line with the Azores, but that they were not likely to reach even 
these outposts of the known world for a few days. 

February 12, a storm began to come on; and it was only with great labor 
and danger that the ships could keep on their eastward course. The wind 
and heavy sea lasted all that day and the next; increasing greatly after sun- 
set on the 13th. Flashes of lightning gave promise of a still greater tempest, 
which soon burst in such fury that they were obliged to take in all sail, and 
scud all night under bare poles. 

The next morning there was promise of a break in the storm ; but it was 
not fulfilled. The wind rose again, and lasted all through the night. The 
open vessels labored hard, every moment threatening them with eugulfment 
in the angry waves. As night came on, the two ships were separated; 
Columbus k,ept on a straight course to the northeast, endeavoring to signal 



110 THE FIRST VOYAGE OF COLUMBCS, 

by lights to the Pi nf a; but uo answering lights couldlH' seen through the 
biaekness of tlio stormy night. The weakness of her foremast had prevented 
her from holding the wind, and slic had been obliged to run before it due 
north. 

Day broke over a waste of waters, still angry and threatening. All through 
the dreary day the helpless little JMna was driven along before the wind, not 
knowing what had beeome of her companion vessel. The .ship was nearly 
disabled, and all seamanship was in vain ; there was but one source of help 
in such emergencies, and thither Columbus and his crew betook themselves. 
Thinking to avert the wrath of Heaven as manifested in this terrible tempest, 
he determined to offer solemn vows and acts of penance. Pilgrimages to 
peculiarly sacred places were in that day a favorite means of showing devo- 
tion, and were esteemed acceptable worship. At the suggestion of Columbus, 
it was determined to cast lots, to see who should vow to make a pilgrimage, 
immediately after landing, to the shrine of Santa Maria de Guadaloupe, 
Hearing a wax taper of five pounds' weight. A nund)er of beans, one of 
which was marked with a cross, were placed in a cap, and the crew assembled 
to draw from among them. Columbus, of course, was the iirst to do so; and 
he drew the marked bean, which indicated that he was to make the pilgrim- 
age. Another lot was cast, to decide who should undertake a pilgrimage to 
the shrine at Loretto; and Columbus agreed to pay the expenses of the sea- 
man who drew the marked bean. A third time was chance invoked to decide 
who should become a pilgrim, this time to the shrine of Santa Clara de 
Moguer, and coupled with an obligation to procure a solemn high mass, and 
to watch all night in the chapel; and this, like the first, fell upon Columbus. 

But in spite of these pious vows, the tempest was not abated; and the 
whole crew agreed that wherever they first lauded they would go in proces- 
sion, barefooted, and clad only in their shirts, or close under-tunics, to some 
church dedicated to the Virgin, and offer up a solemn thanksgiving for 
their safety. Each man, besides, made such private vows of penance or 
reformation of life as seemed good to him ; and the whole crew an.xiously 
waited to see the result of their acts of piety. 

But even to the eye of faith it was not perceptible, and all gave themselves 
up for lost. The storm continued unabated. Their danger was increased V)y 
the lightness of the vessel; the water casks being nearly emptied, and the 
provisions having run low. To remedy this evil, Columbus gave orders that 
the empty casks should be filled with sea-water; and thus ballasted, the cara- 
vel rode more steadily. 

^^e condition of the mind of Columbus is better pictured by his own 
words, as found in a letter to the sovereigns, than in any whicli could be 
found to express it. He says: — 

" I could have supported this evil fortune with less grief, hail my pcr.-ou 



THK FIKST VOVA(iE OF COLUMBU8. 



Ill 



aloue been in jeopardy, since 1 am a del)tor for my life to the supreme Crea- 
tor, and have been at other times within a step of death. But it was a cause 
of infinite sorrow and trouble to think that, after having been illuminated 
from on high with faith and certainty to undertake this enterprise, after 
having victoriously achieved it, and when on the point of convincing my op- 
ponents, and securing to your highnesses great glory and vast increase of 




CoLCMBuo' Mv.y Tni;o\viNG Ovv.r tiik Cask. 

dominions, it should please the Divine ^Majesty to defeat all by my death. It 
would have been more supportable, also, had I not been accompanied by 
others who had been drawn on by my persuasions, and who, in their distress, 
cursed not only the hour of their coming, but the fear inspired by my words 
which prevented their turning back, as they had at various times determined. 
Above all, my grief was doubled when I thought of my two sons, whom I had 
left at school in Cordova, destitute, in a strange hind, "without any testimony 



112 TMK FIRST VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS. 

of the services rendered l)y their father, which, if known, might have in- 
clined your highnesses to bc^friend tlicm. And although, on tiio one hand, I 
was comforted by the faith tiiat the Deity would not permit a work of such 
great exaltation to his Ciuirch, wrought through so many troubles and contra- 
dictions, to remain imperfect; yet, on the other hand, I reflected on my sins, 
as a punishment for which he might intend that I should be deprived of the 
•^lory which would ledound to me in this world." 

While in this state of uncertainty as to what had become of the I'hifa, and 
what was to become of the J^ina, the tireless Admiral of the Indian Seas de- 
termined to take every means to perpetuate the knowledge of his discovery, 
even should he be lost. An account of his voyage was carefully written 
out on parchment and enclosed in a waxed cloth, which was placed in the 
center of a cake of wax. The whole was then shut up in a large barrel, 
which was cast into the sea. The account of his voyage was addressed to the 
King and Queen of Spain, and superscribed with a promise of a thousand 
ducats — about six thousand dollars according to present values — to whoever 
should deliver it unopened. He made two copies of the account, and placed 
one, enclosed in a similar way, on the poop of his vessel ; so that, if he should 
be lost, there would be two copies afloat on the ocean. 

About the year 18.52 a report was circulated, through the English news- 
papers, that this cask, committed to the waves so long ago, had been picked 
up by an American vessel off the African coast. Lamartino, one of the great 
writers who have devoted their talents to a study of the life of Columbus, has 
accepted this story as correct. Of the other principal biographers of the 
great discoverer who have written since the date of its publication, Helps is 
the only one who mentions it; and he says the story has never been substan- 
tiated, but probably originated in the brain of some fertile newspaper writer. 
It seen)s incredible that, if such a thing were indeed discovered, the fact 
should not excite wide-spi-ead comment, and the article itself be deposited in 
some public plac^e, where it could be examined by historians and antiquarians. 

Although taking such precautions to prevent the knowledge of his discov- 
ery from being wholly lost, Columbus did not let his men know what he was 
doing; but gave them to suppose that he was performing some religious vow. 
So great was the variety of such vows in those times, and so whimsical did 
they sometimes appear to those who did not know the full meaning which the 
devotee attached to that particular form of doing things, that tliis excited 
no sui'prisc in the minds of his followers. If his vow obliged him to throw 
a cask overboard, it was his duty to do so, especially in such a storm as this, 
which might have been sent to remind him of a neglect of duty. 

A streak of clear sky appeared in the west about sunset, and the wind 
changed during the night ; but the sea still ran high, and they could carry but 
little sail during the night. 



THE FIRST VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS. 113 

At daybreak on the morniug of the ISth, the lookout gave the welcome cry 
of " Land!" It was plainly to be seen, about five leagues to the east-north- 
east, directly ovci* the prow of the caravel. The rejoicing sailors began to 
discuss the question of what land it was; one thought it one of the Madeira 
Islands; one said that it was a rock near Lisbon; and many of them strove to 
recognize some Spanish headland in its outlines. Columbus was assured that 
it was one of the Azores; and this it proved to be. As they approached the 
land, the •wind veered directly around; and for two days the tempest-tossed 
mariners were kept by the contraiy wind in full sight of the land which they 
longed to reach, but could not. 

They succeeded in coming near enough to cast anchor on the evening of the 
17th; but the cable parted, and they wei-e obliged to put to sea once more. 
Beating about all night, they were more successful the next morning, and an- 
chored in a harbor on the northern side of the island, as they had now found 
it to be. 

A boat was sent to land, and it was found that this island was St. Mary's, 
one of the Azores, and a dependency of the Crown of Portugal. When the 
inhabitants saw the caravel, and learned that it had been at sea during the 
tempest, and yet had lived through it, they were wonder-struck; for the 
storm had raged for fifteen days with unexampled severity. "When they 
learned, however, from what port it had sailed, and that it had crossed the 
ocean and found land on the west, from which it was even now returning, their 
wonder and excitement knew no bounds. In reply to inquiries, they pointed 
out a harbor where the caravel might ride in safety; but insisted that three 
of the seamen should remain on shore to give them full particulars of the ex- 
traordinary things of which they had told. 

Morning came; and Columbus, grateful for the preservation of his vessel 
from the fury of the storm, reminded his men of the vow which they had 
made, to be fulfilled as soon as they should reach any land where there was a 
shrine of the Virgin. The crew could not all go at once; so that it was re- 
solved that half should go first; and when they had performedthis pious duty 
and returned, the others, among whom was the leader himself, should follow 
their example. 

There was a small hermitage, dedicated to the Virgin, at no great distance 
from the spot where they lay at anchor, although hidden by an intervening point 
j)f land. This was the end of their pilgrimage; and messengers were sent to 
ihe village to procure the services of a priest in celebrating mass. 

The governor of the island, Juan de Castaneda, had, on the i^revious even- 
ing, sent refreshment to the tempest-tossed mariners, and claiming through 
his messenger an acquaintance with Columbus, had been profuse in his com- 
pliments and congratulations. He had apologized for not coming in person, 
but promised to pay them a visit the next morning, bringing more suj^plies 



114 



FIKsr \()VA(iK Ol' COMMHrS. 



ami tli«' tliren scanion whom ho now dotaincd on shore. It was then with a 
fi'oliug of perfect security that tlie devotees left the vessel and marched hare- 
footed to the little hermitage. What was their surjjrise when, in the very 
midst of their prayers and thanksgiving, they found themselves surroundetl 
by a niol), mounted and unmounted, from tlu^ village, headed hy the gov('rnor 
himself; and were all taken prisoners! 







A Ptl.GRIMAGE OF GRACK. 

Eleven o'clock arrived, and the Admiral was anxiously awaiting the return 
of his men; but still they came not. He now began to fear that they had 
been detained by the Portuguese; for he was by no means certain that any 
official of that government would be disposed to treat him well. There was 
another alternative: the boat might have been dashed to ))ieees upon the 
rocky and surf-l)caten shore. He accordingly gave orders to weigh anchor, 
and stand out to sea far enough to command a view of the hermitage and of the 
])ath leading to it. Much to his dismay, he saw a party of armed men apj)roacii 
and enter the boat. They rowed to the side of the caravel: and the governor, 
who was one of their number, demanded an assurance of his personal safety in 
case he boarded the vessel. This was given, readily enough ; but still he seemed 
reluctant totrust himself within reach of Columbus. The Admiral then broke 



THE FIRST VOYAGE OF COLCMBUS. 115 

fortli iiit0 reproiiches, declaring that the perfidy of the governor did wrong 
not only to the Spanish monarchs, whose representative Columbus Avas, but 
to the King of Portugal, whom Castaneda represented here. He stated in 
sonorous Spanish titles, his own rank and dignity, displayed his letters patent, 
with the royal seal of Castile affixed, and thi'catened him with the vengeance 
of Ferdinand and Isabella. Castaneda replied contemptuously, and the boat, 
after an hour's altercation, returned to shore. 

Columbus feared that a war had broken out between Spain and Portugal 
since his departure from Palos, and that this was the explanation of theti'eat- 
mcnt which he had received. But whatever the reason, he did not have long 
to speculate; all his attention was required to keep the vessel safe. The 
weather became stormy again, and she was driven from her anchorage; not 
only was she short of hands, because of the detention of half her crew on 
shore, but the greater part of those who remained w'ere landsmen and Indi- 
ans, who were almost useless in navigating the vessel. 

The evening of the 22nd, Columbus returned to his anchorage; for the storm 
had abated. Shortly afterward, a boat, containing two priests and a notary, 
as civil officers were called, put oif from shore and approached the caravel. 
After considerable parleying, they came on board; and requested to see the 
pajDers of Columbus. These were readily shown ; and the officials departed, 
satisfied. The next morning the sailors were liberated, and permitted to de- 
l)art in their own boat. 

During their detention, they had learned the reason for this action on the 
part of the governor. Jealous in the extreme of the sovereigns of Spain, 
since they had embraced an opportunity which his own craftiness and deceit 
had lost to him, he had given orders to all the governors of his outlying col- 
onies to seize and detain Columbus wherever he should be met with. Castan- 
eda had hoped, by courteous treatment, to allay any suspicions which Colum- 
bus might entertain, and then surprise and capture him while he was without 
the assistance of so many of his men; but the caution of Columbus had pre- 
vented this; and the Portuguese governor had to own himself beaten. 

Two days later they set sail from St. Mary's, the wind being favorable for 
a direct passage to Spain. But this state of affairs did not long continue. 
They seemed to be repulsed, on their return, "from the veiy door of the 
house." Several days of stormy weather had been experienced when, on the 
2nd of March, a squall struck the .'ittle vessel and rent hersails into ribbons. 
Again she scudded under bare poles; and again the crew, at the suggestion 
of Columbus, cast lots to see who should perform a pilgrinuige. The devotee 
was to go to the shrine of SantaMaria de la Cuevain Huelva; and once more 
the lot fell upon Columbus. The devout Las Casas, remarking upon the fact 
that Columbus had drawn the lot for three pilgrimages out of the four, con- 
cluded that it was an intimation from God that these storms were all on his 



116 THE FIRST VOYAGE OF COLU5IBUS. 

account, to humt)lc his pride, and show him how easily ho might have been 
lost, with all knowledge of what ho had done, had Providence so willed it. 
It is not improbable that Columbus himself took this view of it. 

They saw various signs of the vicinity of land; but in such a storm as was 
raging, this only increased their fear. The tempest continued; and the light 
caravel seemed but the plaything of the angry winds and waves. During 'the 
first watch of the night of the 3rd, the cry of land was given ; but by strong 
exertions they managed to keep to sea until daylight should point out a safe 
path. 

They found themselves off the rock of Cintra, at the mouth of the Tagus; 
and although Columbus had good reason to doubt how he woukl be treated 
in Portugal, he had no choice but to bring his battered little vessel to land, 
lie accordingly anchored opposite to Rastello, the crew returning hearty 
thanks to God for their escape from so many dangers. From the inhabitants 
of that part of the shore, who flocked to congratulate them upon what seemed 
a miraculous preservation, the seamen learned that this had been a remark- 
ably stormy winter; and that many vessels had remained storm-bound in port 
for months, while many others had suffered shii)wreck. Yet the frail and 
crazy bark Nina had crossed the broad and unknown Atlantic in safety, and 
reached port at last. 

Columbus at once dispatched a courier with letters to his royal patrons; 
and another with a letter to the King of Portugal, asking permission to take 
his vessel to Lisbon, and assuring him that he had not been to the coast of 
Guinea or any other of the Portuguese possessions, but had reached India by 
sailing to the west. 

Before this letter had reached its destination, indeed, the very day after 
he had anchored, Columbus received a message from the commander of a 
Portuguese man-of-war summoning him to give an account of himself and 
his vessel. The Admiral of the Indian Seas refused to leave his vessel at the 
bidding of any power but that of Castile, and so replied to the messengers. 
When the Portuguese officer learned what a voyage ho had made, ho visited 
him on board the caravel, and offered his services in any way in which they 
might be desired. 

From this visit, and from the accounts given by the people living near the 
mouth of the Tagus, the news was transmitted to Lisbon, reaching the popular 
ear at almost the same timothatthe letter of Columbus was delivered to the 
King. The people were wild with excitement; since for a hundred years the 
chief glory of Portugal had been derived from her maritime explorations, 
and here was an achievement which threw into the shade their latest success, 
the doubling of the Cape of Good Hope. 

As soon as the King received the letter, he dispatched a cavalier with an 
answer, inviting Columbus to Valparaiso, where the court then was; and or- 



THE FIRST VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS. 



117 



deringthat everything which Columbus might require for himself, his men, 
or his ship, should be furnished at the expense of the royal treasury. 

Columbus, remembering the treatment which he had received at the hands 
of this very monarch, was a little distrustful; but being already in his power, 
dared not show suspicion by decliningthe invitation. He went, accompanied 
only by his pilot; and was received with high honors. So anxious was the 
King to show him. all possible respect that the visitor was commanded to be 
seated in the royal presence; an honor which generally was accorded only to 
royalty. 




Columbus Before the Sovereigns of Portugal. 



After the interview between them, in which Columbus gave an account of 
his voyage and of the lands which he had visited, the King held a confei-ence 



118 THE FIRST VOYAGE OF rOLlMBUS. 

with some of his advisers. He was uneasy lest these discoveries should inti r- 
ferowith his claims of territory which had been granted liim by a papal buli. 
of the laud from Cape Koii, on the ci>ast of Africa, to the Indies; and his 
courtiers were only too ready to suggest that the islands which Columbus had 
discovered lay very near the Tercera Islands, and therefore rightfully belonged 
to Portugal. 

It was even advised that Columbus should be prevented from reluming lo 
Spain or making more voyages of discovery, by tiiesimpU: and effective means 
of putting an end to his life. It could be done, the wily ad\isers toldtiic 
King, without any appearance of violence unbefitting the King; Columl)Us 
could be led to i-escnt some remark, for his pride was evident to tliem all : 
this would lead to an altercation, such as could be settled, between gentlemen, 
only by an appeal to arms; and in the resulting duel the adventurer would be 
slain. 

But this advice was less pleasing to the King than another bit of counsel. 
If he followed the leading of some of his courtiers, he would permit Colum- 
bus to depart for Spain, unmolested; for it was his duty as a prince to pro- 
tect and further the journey of all who were driven by storms to seek shelter 
in his harbors. But if he should at once proceed to fit out an armament, and 
should send it to take possession of the countries which Columbus claimed to 
have discovered, it would recjuire a war for Spain to dispossess him; and his 
right would be made all the stronger, before such war could be begun, by his 
having possession of the country in dispute. 

Thus the King of Portugal and his Council first persuaded themselves that 
the countries discovered by Colund)us rightfully belonged to Portugal — no 
difiicult task, since they wished to believe it — and then contrived a plan by 
which, they thought, Spain and her envoy could be cheated out of the results 
of that envoy's genius and labor and peril. 

In accordance with this plan, Columbus was tieated with the most disting- 
uished consideration by all connected with the Portuguese court. King John 
offered, if he preferred to enter Spain by land, to bear all the expenses con- 
nected with his journey, and to furnish a guard of honor such as was fitting 
for a personage of his rank and achievements. Columlms, however, declined 
this flattering offer, since the weather had become more calm; and put to sea 
March 13, arriving at Palos two days later, the day of the week being Friday. 

If the day, nearly seven months and a half previous, when the little fleet 
set sail from Palos had been a season of general mourning, the day of the 
y^iiia's return was one of general rejoicing. There are but two important 
dates in the history of this Spani.sh seaport: one is August 3, 1492; the other 
is March 1."), ir.i3. 

Yet, although tile bells were rung, the shops shut, and all business sus- 
pended, there was but one of the vessels that had returned in safety; one. 



■iiiK FiKsr ^()VA(;K of columbl.s. 



119 



hail been wrecked, iiiul the fate of the other was dreadfully uncertain. Of 
I lie mariners who had manned these vessels, thirty hud been left on the 
strange shore which the expedition had discovered; about the same number 
were still battling with the ocean, in the Pinta, or were buried with her 
beneath its waters. 

But this uncertainty was soon to be dispelled: for on the very day that 
Columbus arrived at Palos, and only a few hours later, the rinta sailed up 
the river. Driven before the storm into the Bay of Biscay, Pinzon had suc- 
ceeded in making the port of Bayonne. Confident that in a tempest which 
the stronger and more sea-worthy Pinla could hardly weather, the Nina 
must have perished, he wrote a letter to the rulers of Spain, announcing the 
discoveries which he had made; and requesting permission to come to court 
and comnuinicate the particulars in person. Full of brilliant anticipations 
of a triumphant entry into his native town, he then set sail for Palos. 

The bells were still ringing when he entered the harbor; but he knew no 
reason for this glad demonstration until he saw, riding at anchor before him, 
the battered and tempest-tossed Xina, which he had thought was at the l)ot- 
tom of the Atlantic. At once all his bright hopes were dashed to the ground ; 
and fearful of being called to account by Columbus for his desertion off 
Cuba, he caused his boat to be lowered, and landed privately; keeping well 
out of sight until he learned that Columbus had left Palos. 

Concealed in the homo which he had dreamed would be the scene of such 
honor, he at last received the answer of Ferdinand and Isabella to his letter. 
It reproached him with endeavoring to take to himself the honor which right- 
fully belonged to another, and ended by forbidding him to come to court. It 
was too much for the hardy and adventurous mariner; and he who perhaps 
had done more than any one man to make the expedition of Columbus 
possible died a few days afterward, the victim of deep chagrin. " His story 
shows how one lapse from duty may counterbalance the merits of a thousand 
services; how one moment of weakness may mar the beauty of a whole life 
of virtue; and how important it is for a man, under all circumstances, to be 
true not merely to others, but to himself." 

Columbus had gone to Seville, shortly after landing, there to await the 
commands of Ferdinand and Isabella; he had taken with him six of the 
Indians who had voluntarily accompanied him to Spain; one having died on 
the voyage, and three being left, ill, at Palos. 

At Seville he received an answer to his letter, addressed to " Don Christo- 
pher Columbus, Our Admiral of the Ocean Sea, and Viceroj' and Governor 
of tlie Islands Discovered in the Indies." It is said that the Spaniai-ds are 
particularly fond of long and sounding titles; and this address would surely 
have satisfied the most ambitious of them. The contents of the letter were 
as flattering as the superscription was imposing. The sovereigns eyoressed 




XUE TlUUMTliAL PkOOKESS. 



(1-Ju) 



THE FIRST VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS. 121 

their unbounded delight at the services rendered by Columbus, and requested 
him to repair to court at once, to make arrangements for a second voyage. 
If there was anything which they could do to expedite such a journey before 
he could come to them, he was to send them word, and it should be done. 
They desired to take advantage of the approaching summer, since that was 
the most favorable season for such journeys of discovery. 

His journey to Barcelona, where the court then was, was like the triumphal 
progress of a sovereign; never before had a man sprung from the people 
received such honors from Spaniards; for never before had any man done 
such service to the Crown and the empire. Arrived at Barcelona, he was 
welcomed by such a crowd of spectators of the brilliant cavalcade which 
escorted him, that they could hardly make their way through the streets. 
The King and Queen had ordered their throne to be placed in public under a 
rich canopy of brocade; and seated here, attended by their son and the 
highest nobles of the court, they awaited the coming of the discoverer. As 
he approached the throne, they rose, as if receiving one of their own rank; 
and as in the court of Poi'tugal, so in the presence of the proud and punctil- 
ious Spanish monarchs, Columbus was actually permitted to be seated. To 
us, such a distinction appears trivial; but it did not seem so to those who 
witnessed the reception of Columbus by the sovereigns whom he served. 

An account of the voyage was given their majesties, and the natives and 
other spoil acquired duly displayed. When Columbus had finished speaking, 
the King and Queen, followed, of course, by all present, fell upon their 
knees; and raising their clasped hands, poured forth a thanksgiving to the 
Power which had so blessed the enterprise. The emotion of those assembled 
was too deep for ordinary acclamations; and when the prayer was concluded, 
there was a solemn silence, until the voices of the choir of the royal chapel, 
accompanied by instruments, rose in the sacred strains of the psalm, "Te 
Deum Laudamus." Their thoughts were borne upward on the swelling 
strains, as though, says Las Casas, " in that hour they communicated with 
celestial delights." 

It would be tedious to tell of the round of entertainments prepared in 
honor of Columbus by the obsequious courtiers, and the honors which they 
strove to shower upon him. Everywhere that he went, he was the object of 
a respect so profound that its like had never been shown to any man not of 
royal descent. Yet there were not wanting some who were meanly jealous of 
him, and who asserted that his service was but small; had he not discovered 
these countries, there were yet others in Spain who were capable of doing so; 
that his success was due simply to a series of lucky accidents, which might 
have befallen any adventurous mariner. At one of the banquets given in his 
honor, a courtier had the hardihood to suggest this to Columbus himself, by 
asking if he thought there was no one else in Spain who could have accom- 




RkCEITION of COLr>rBi;3 by FkHDIX.VXD and fsAUKLLA. 



THK I'IKST AOYAGK OF COLUMHUS. 123 

plishetl the discovei-y. For answer, Columbus took an egg, and asked his 
would-be detractor to set it on end; saying that it was an easy tiling to do. 
The courtier tried to balance it, but failed; meantime, the attention of all 
present was attracted to this " most excellent fooling," Avhich seemed to be 
directed by the great man himself. When the trial was ended, and the proud 
Spaniard acknowledged that he could not do it, one after another, believing 
he saw wherein lay the difficulty, and encouraged by the amused smile of Co- 
lumbus and his assurance that il was easy enough, 'begged leave to make the 
trial. One after another they essayed it; and one after another they failed, 
and were obliged to give up. The discoverer took the egg in his hand, and 
knocked one end against the table until it .stood firndy upon the broken 
part. No words were needed to complete the lesson; the envious belittler 
of a great man's fame had learned that there are things ea.sy enough to do 
when one knows how, but impossible to those who have not learned, unless 
natural capacity supplies the place of teaching. 

The story is as well known as that later one of George Washington and 
the cherry tree ; but it is better authenticated than that. The simplicity of 
the reproof is quite in accordance with the character of Columbus, who was 
eminently practical, and always ready to use the means at hand, no matter 
how trifling. 

Although it was supposed that the land discovered by Columbus was a part 
of the territory of a people who had made a considerable advance in civiliza- 
tion, the Spanish sovereigns felt not the slightest doubt of their right to take 
possession of it, and appoint governors and other officials as they saw fit. 
This was in accordance with the principle which the rulers of Europe had 
established for themselves during the Crusades, that Christian princes have 
undoubted rights over all countries not Christian. This principle, highly 
satisfactory to those who were benefitted by it, combined with the principle 
of the right of discovery, sustained Ferdinand and Isabella in their intention 
of taking possession of the Indies. It was further believed that the Pope, 
as the head of the Christian world, possessed the right to assign these terri- 
tories of paynim peoples to the Christian nations. In accordance with this 
belief, the Spanish rulers, to strengthen their right of discovery, applied to 
the Pope for a bull to sanction their further proceedings. 

This request was not made without an intimation that the Spaniards 
scarcely considei-ed it necessary, but regarded it merely as a ceremony due 
from them to show their respect for the Holy See. Thus politely informed 
that if he did not give his consent to their holding and colonizing these 
lands, they would do so without his permission, the Pope granted the request, 
and issued the desired bull. To prevent any conflict between Spain and 
Portugal regarding the countries which the Holy Father had granted to them 
respectively, it was decided that an imaginary line to be drawn from pole 





i 






^ . .in' 





Columbus and thk Egg. 



(Ui) 



THE FIRST VOYAGK OF COLUMBUS. 125 

to pole ii huudred leagues to the west of the Azores, should be the boundary 
between their possessions; all to the east of this was to belong to Portugal; 
while all land to the west of it was to belong to the Crown of Spain. 

While these negotiations were being carried on, Ferdinand and Isabella ex- 
erted themselves to honor Columbus, to the utmost. The outcome of their 
efforts seems to have been the assignment of a coat of arms, in which the 
groujj of islands surrounded by waves, which was the design of the heralds, 
was quartered with the royal Castle and Lion, which Isabella bore on her 
shield in allusion to the names of her two kingdoms, Castile and Leon. To 
this device, a motto was afterward added, a Spanish couplet which is, trans- 
lated into English prose: "To Castile and Leon Columbus gave a New 
World.-' 

It took time to procure the papal bull; and the Spanish monarchswere not 
willing to delay their preparations for another voyage. They proceeded with 
the work, first organizing it so as to insure regularity and dispatch in trans- 
acting the business relating to this vast new empire. Juan Rodriguez de 
Fonseca, Archdeacon of Seville, was appointed to superintend them, and 
finally, after several ecclesiastical promotions in Spain, made Patriarch of the 
Indies. Francisco Pinelo was associated with him as treasurer, and Juan de 
Soria as comptroller. These officials were to be located at Seville; although 
they also had charge of the custom-house at Cadiz, where ships from the New 
AV-orldwere required to land. An office was also ordered to be established in 
Hispaniola, under the direction of the Admiral. An accountant was to sail 
with each vessel, and strict reports were to be rendei-ed to the sovereigns of 
the amount of cargo carried; since they were responsible for the expenses, 
and received all the emoluments, except for that small proportion which they 
had agreed to allow to Columbus. 

The narrow and jealous spirit of the Spaniards was shown in the restric- 
tions which were jJutupon emigration and commerce; for a long time no one 
but subjects of Isabella were permitted to trade in the Indies discovered by 
Columbus; he had given the New World to Castile and Leon, and to no other 
country. 

Although Ferdinand was called the Most Catholic King, and Isabella was 
noted for her piety and devotion, the means which they employed or per- 
. mitted to furnish this armament seem to us to smack of the grossest injustice. 
We have seen that on the first voyage they had ordered that men and vessels 
should be pressed into service when it was found that they could be obtained 
in no other way; and now again they ordered that Columbus and Fonseca 
should select whatever vessels pleased them, and pay to the owners what 
seemed to the Admiral and the Archdeacon a fair price, regardless of whether 
the owner desired to sell or not. The same order was given in regard to the 
supplies of provisions, arms, and ammunition ; and they were further author- 



126 



XOVAtiK OK (•OLl'.MHUS. 



ized to compel any officer or seaman wlio Miiglit add to the ctticicniv nf the 
service to enihark on tl>c fleet at a reason; ole pay. 

The revenue for tliis expedition was drawn partly from the church tithes; 
two-thirds of that revenu(! being set aside for the purpo>'c. Tiie Jews had 
been banished from the kingdom during the preceding year, their jewels and 
many other valuables being confiscated; and these wei'o now sold, and the 
proceeds applied to the expenses of tlie cxi)edition. The deficiency which 
existed after these resources had been exhausted was supplied by a loan. 

Twelve zealous and able churchmen were to sail with the Admiral, to assist 
in the conversion of the heathen inhabitants. The six Indians, also, having 
been duly baptized with great state and ceremony, were intended to assist in 
this work among their countrymen; but one of them remained behind, at the 
request of Prince Juan, the heir to the throne, as a member of his household. 
He died not long afterward, however; the first of his race, says the pious 
Spanish historian, to enter the kingdom of Heaven. 




Ill- 1'kii \ii. 1-'ai Hi.u ri:i:i:, 



Seventeen vessels were prepared for this second expedition to the western 
lands; all kinds of skilled workmen were provided for evei'y need of the new 
colony; domestic animals of all varieties were secured, and there was a 
plentiful stock of seeds and plants, as well as of the special kinds of 
merchandise for traffic with the natives. Provisions, ammunition, arms, and 
medicines were a matter of course. The number of persons engaged in the 
enterprise was at first limited to a thousand ; but so great was the enthusiasm 
re.specting the Kew World, and so vast was the army of adventurers, whose 



THE FIRST VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS. 127 

occupation had been gone since the Moorish wars and the late contests with 
France had ended, that the sovereigns found it necessary to raise the limit to 
twelve hundred. These enlisted without pay, trusting to the fabulous amount 
of wealth which they believed to exist in the Indies to repay every exertion 
which they might make. So intense was the desire of many to go, that they 
hid themselves on the vessels until after the departure; and the real number 
on board the ships, including these stowaways, was not far short of fifteen 
hundred. 

Not all the requisitions which Columbus made for men and supplies were 
honored without question by the officials appointed for the superintendence 
of these affairs. Both Fonseca and Soria demurred to various demands of 
his; but an appeal to the royal authority always ended in Columbus being 
upheld, and the objecting officials being commanded to furnish all that he 
might desire. It was the golden prime of his favor with the sovereigns; for 
a little while he was to be the man whom the king delighteth to honor; and 
then his star was to set at tlie Spanish court, to rise again, after a short 
ol)scuration, over the wide world. 




CHAPTER IV. 

THE SECOKD VOYAGE OF COLUlVmUS. 

The Great Fleet— Precautions of Columbus— Tlie Outward Voyage — Traces of Civilization 
— Evidences of Cannibalism — Hostilities — Doubts Confirmed — At Anchorage — The Fate of 
the Garrison — Story of the Natives — Attacked by Caribs — A New Colony — The Building of 
Isabella — Sickness — Exploration of the Island — Ojeda's Expedition — Return of Vessels — 
Slave-Trading Proposed by Columbus — His Re;isons — Dissatisfaction — A Conspiracy Discov- 
ered — Action of Columbus — Columbus Explores the Island — Fort St. Thomas — Necessities of 
the Colony — "Gentlemen" at Work — A Voyage of Discovery — Welcome Reports — Cuba 
Voted a Part of the Mainland — Dangerous Illness of Columbus — Return to Isabella — Adven- 
tures of Bartholomew Columbus — Margarite"s Rebellion — Enemies — Siege of St. Thomas — 
Ojeda's Daring Enterprise -Spanish Cunning vs. Indian Cunning — Steel Bracelets — Spanish 
Cunning Wins — Condition of Colony — An Indian War — Victory — The Conqueror'? Conditions 
— A Desperate Eftbrt — Misrepresentations of Margarite — Isabella's Views on Slavery — Aguado's 
Arrival — Wariness of Columbus — Discovery of Gold Mines — Romantic Story — Return to Spain. 

HEX, in the early part of August, 1492, three small vessels sailed 
from the port of Palos, the men on board of them were regarded 
as doomed to be lost at sea, and the leader of the expedition was 
regarded as a foolhardy adventurer, who had succeeded in exciting the cu- 
pidity of the sovereigns until, for the hope of visionary gain, they were 
willing to imperil these vessels. Now, he was the great discoverer of a 
new route to the opulent Indies, the friend and fovored officer of great sov- 
ereigns ; while his followers were the most fortunate of mortals in being 
permitted to seek these regions of riches incalculable. 

The lleet, as we have seen, consisted of seventeen vessels ; three of which 
were of the class called carracks, of about one hundred tons' burden each; 
two of the caravels were much larger than the others ; and there was not a 
vessel of them all that was not far superior, in its sea-going qualities, to the 
crazy bark in which the great Admiral had made the homeward voyage. 

Leaving Cadiz at sunrise on the 25th of September, they reached the 
Canaries October 1, and remained there several days, taking on board a 
number of domestic animals in addition to those already provided, and seeds 
of lemons, oranges, and such other tropical fruits as seemed to Columbus 
appropriate to the climate of the islands which he had visited. Before leav- 
ing these islands, Columbus delivered to the commander of each vessel sealed 
orders as to the course to be pursued; these orders to be opened only in case 
the vessels should become separated. He pursued this course in order to 
prevent the path to the New World from becoming generally known ; 

(128) 



THE SECOND VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS. 129 

for he feared lest adventurers of other nationalities, and particularly the 
Portuguese, would follow in his steps should the road once become familiar, 
and rob the Spanish rulers of the sovereignty and emoluments which justly 
belonged to them. It was the thirteenth, however, before the wind proved 
favorable for thc^ir westward voyage ; and on that day thej' set sail from the 
Canaries. 

The journey was not attended by any misfortunes, such as had marked the 
recent homeward voyage. Toward the latter jjart of October they M'cre con- 
siderably alarmed by a storm, accompanied by the vivid lightning and heavy 
thunder of the tropics; this lasted for four hours; but they were reassured 
when they saw tlie lambent flames playing about the masts: with the super- 
stition of the time, they said that St. Elmo appeared on the mast, with seven 
lighted candles. Having seen this appearance, they chanted litanies and 
orisons, confident that when St. Elmo showed himself in the storm there 
would be no damage done. 

Sunday, November 3, land was descried; and because it was seen on Sun- 
day, dies Domini, Columbus named the island Dominica. Six other islands 
were seen during the day, on one of which he landed to take formal possession 
of the archipelago in the name of Spain. 

Continuing their course, they landed the next day on an island that Colum- 
bus named Guadaloupe, in fulfillment of a promise to the monks of Our Lady 
of Guadaloupe in Estramadura to call some newly discovered place after 
their convent. The natives fled at their approach, in such haste that sonic 
of them even left their children behind them. The huts they found con- 
structed in a similar manner to those of the other islands which Columbus 
had visited; but much to his surprise, he found in one of them an iron pan, 
the first bit of that metal which he had seen in the New World. In another 
house was the stern-post of a vessel, which was very much like those of 
European manufacture. Columbus wondered much to see this, and was at a 
loss to know how it had been obtained. Had it been brought from some 
country near by, where the people were more civilized, as he was certain that 
the subjects of Kublai Khan were? Or was it the sole remnant of some un- 
fortunate vessel which had been driven out to sea from some voyage along 
the coast of Europe or Africa, and lost, its fragments drifting to this distant 
shore? It surely could not be the stern-post of that vessel of his own which 
had been wrecked off Hispaniola, for the parts of that had been used in the 
construction of the fortress, toward which they were presently to continue 
their voyage. 

But the most horrifying sight which they beheld, was the evidence of the 
cannibalism of the inhabitants; human skulls were used as vases and house- 
hold utensils; and other human remains were present in abundance. Fortun- 
ately for the crew of the boat that was sent to land, the men of the island 
!) 



130 



THE SKCOM) V()V.\(iK OT COI-rMBrS. 



were, absent on one of the predatory expeditions by whieh int., .^-rrorized tlic 
neigliboring islands; and only women and boys remained to defend their 
homes. This nmeh wasaseertained from several women and a boy, who were 
captured, and who were able to communicate with them, although imperfect- 
ly, through one of the Indians who had been to Spain and returned on this 
voyage. . 




E\TI)ENCES OK CaXXIHALIS.M. 



Much alarm was occasioned by the tidings thai the captain of one of the 
caravels was missing, together with eight nf his men. Every effort was made 



THE SECOND ^■OVA(IE OK COLUMHIIS. IHl 

to find them; iuid when search proved unavailing, signal guns were tired to 
attract their attention. They did not make their appearance for several days ; 
when they told a pitiful story, confirmed by their haggard looks and exhaust- 
ed strength, of being lost in the impenetrable forest, and wandering about, 
unable to find their way back until they at last reached the shore; and by 
following that for a considerable distance, had come within sight of the fleet. 
Although the account which they gave of their sufferings was evidently true. 
Columbus ordered them to be placed under arrest; for they had left their 
vessel without leave and it was necessary to maintain the strictest discipline 
if the order of the expedition was to be preserved. 

While the fleet had been waiting their return, several women, who were 
captives of the fierce Caribs that inhabited this island, had sought shelter 
from their harsh masters in the ships of Columbus, and had found sympathy 
;ind assistance. These were on board when he set sail Nov. 10; and he had 
agreed to return them to their homes. 

Off the island, to which he gave the name of Santa Cruz, a number of 
Spaniards, who had been sent on shore to procure water, and to get such in- 
formation as they could, were attacked while returning to the fleet, by a 
canoc-load of natives. The white men endeavored to protect themselves 
with their bucklers; but the long arrows of the Indians pierced these shields 
tln-ough and through, and two of the Spaniards were wounded by the shafts. 

Approaching that island now known as Porto Rico, he learned that it was 
tlie native country of most of those who had sought refuge on board his 
ships. He landed and spent two days here; butthe natives had fledin terror 
as soon as they saw the squadron, and it was exceedingly ditficult to persuade 
ihem to return. Finally, after cruising for some days among these islands, 
Columbus and his captains proceeded toward Hispaniola, which was to be the 
end of their voyage. Here they would find their comrades who had elected 
to remain in the New World; and here they would find what progress had 
been made in trading with the natives. 

They arrived off the eastern extremity of the island Nov. 22, and followed the 
shore for a short distance befoi'e any attempt was made to kind. Then a boat 
was sent ashore, the crew of which had been detailed to bury the body of a 
sailor who had died of a wound i-eceived during the skirmish which has 
been mentioned. Here also a number of natives came on board, inviting Co- 
lumbus to land, and promising to procure him all the gold which he might 
desire. He was only anxious, however, to reach La Navidad, and dismissed 
them with presents and kind words. 

Arrived at the gulf now called Semana, he sent ashore one of the Indians 
who had iiccompanied him to Spain, and who was considered converted to 
("hristianity, having been baptized. The native was loaded with trinkets of 
all kinds, and instructed to make friends with his countrymen in the name 



132 TIIK SKCOM) VOYAUK t>K COLUMUIS. 

of Iho wliilo men, and iiulucc them to uiecttlu' Admiral in council at La Na- 
vidad; but whcthei- ho forgot tho promises made while a caj)tivc, when once 
he had regained his liberty, or whether he was robbed of all his wealth of 
trinkets, and perhaps murdered ^vas never known ; for nothing more was seen 
or heard of him. 

As several of the mariners were ranging along the coast, th(ry found the 
bodies of a num and a boy, but so far decomposed that they could not tell if 
they were Spaniards or natives. The next day, however, their worst doul)ts 
were confirmed; for two other bodies were found, one of which was certainly 
a European, as was seen by the beard. 

^Vhat had happened to the fortress and garrison of La Navidad? The 
frank and fearless manner of the natives, who came in nunil)ers to visit the 
vessels, forbade the supposition that they had been massacred by the Indians; 
yet he could not explain the finding of these two bodies in the wild forest. 

Arriving late on the evening of the 27th opposite the harlior of La Navidad, 
he was obliged to cast anchor for the night, on account of the dangerous reefs, 
which he feared to pass in the darkness. But he determined to communicate at 
once to the garrison the glad 1 idings that their friends had arrived. He accord- 
ingly ordered two cannon to be fired, hoping to hear an answering report from 
the shore. But as the echo of his own guns died away, there was only the 
breaking of the waves to be heard through the stillness of the night. 

About midnight, a canoe ajiproached the Admiral's vessel, and after the 
Indians in it were sure that Columbus was on board, they entered the ship. 
One of them who said that he was a cousin of Guacanagari, broughtas a present 
two masks ornamented with gold. lie informed the Admiral tliat several of the 
Spaniards had died of sickness; others had fallen in a quarrel among them- 
selves; and others had removed to another part of the island, and nuirried 
Indian women. Guacanagari had been attacked by Caonabo, the caciiiue of 
the fierce tribe that inhabited the gold-bearing region of Cibao; the friendly 
chief had been wounded, his village had been burned, and he now lay, help- 
less by x'eason of his injury, in a neighboring hamlet. 

Some difficulty was experienced in making out the story of this Indian ; for 
the only interi)reter, the sole survivor of those Indians who had made the 
journey to Spain, was a native of another island, and spoke another dialect 
of the language common to many tribes. But this news relieved the mind of 
Columbus of one fear: whatever had happened to the garrison of La Navidad, 
Guacanagari had not been treacherous, but was worthy of the confidence 
which the Admiral had reposed in him. 

The Iiubau envoys departed in the night, after making many promises that 
Guacanagari would visit the Admiral in person in the morning; and the ma- 
riners anxiously awaited the dawn, that they might learn how many of the 
garrison remained at the fort. 



THE SECOND VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS. 133 

They waited in vain for the promised visit from the cacique; and no other 
Indians in their canoes thronged the harbor, as they had been wont to do when 
the Admiral first sought shelter from his wrecked vessel here. Finally, Co- 
lumbus sent a boat ashore to reconnoiter; the crew at once sought the fort- 
ress. The ditch had been partially filled with the debris of the ruin; the 
palisades had been beaten down; here and there, among the charred rem- 
nants of the \valls, they found broken chests, spoiled provisions, and the 
ragged remains of European garments. Now and then they caught sight of 
an Indian in the distance, watching them from his lurking-place behind a 
tree ; but not one approached the search party. 

Fully assured that the people of Guacanagari had wrought this destruction 
of the fortress, the party returned and reported to Columbus. He went on 
shore, to see for himself what was the condition of the colony. He found 
that they had given a correct report; and the minutest search failed to re- 
veal any traces of a human body in the ruins. Returning to the vessel, he 
gave orders that guns should be discharged at regular intervals; for he 
thought that if they had found shelter anywhere in the neighborhood, they 
would be attracted to the shore by these sounds. 

But not one came. Further search revealed the bodies of eleven men, 
buried in different places, at some distance from the fort; which were known 
by their clothing to be Europeans. These men had been dead for some time, 
for the grass was beginning to grow upon their graves. 

The Indians, after hovering timidly at a distance for some time, were finally 
induced to approach nearer, upon assurances that they would be allowed to 
depart when it pleased them. From them the story of the first European 
colony in the New World was learned by degrees. Scarcely had the Admiral 
sailed away, that the men whom he had left behind forgot his prudent coun- 
sels, and surrendered themselves to their vices. The avaricious seized upon 
the ornaments of the natives wherever they were found ; the sensual were not 
content with the privileges allowed them by Guacanagari, but gave their pas- 
sions loose rein; and they quarreled among themselves with such fierceness 
that the wondering Indians, who had thought them the children of Heaven, 
came to have an entirely different idea about their origin. 

Nor did they obey those wise orders of the Admiral, that they should main- 
tain a military discipline, and keep within the bounds of the territory gov- 
erned by Guacanagari. The two lieutenants sought to make themselves 
equal with the commander; and failing in this, withdrew from the forti-ess, 
and set off for Cibao. This part of the island was governed by tha Carib 
chief Caonabo, who had invaded the country, and finally settled there with his 
fierce followers. He was held in great fear by the peaceable natives; but he 
knew very well that his reign of terror would be over if the white men, with 
their arms of thunder and lightning, should establish themselves in the island. 



134 THE SKCONU ^OYA^iK OF COLIMBUS. 

Accordingly', no sooner li:ul these rcljcls vcnturtMl into his territory, tlian he 
weutu|)()n tlio \var-j);ith, captui'cd thcni, and put tlioni to dcatii. 

Having full inforiualion of the original strength of the garrison, and know- 
ing what jiroportion of the nieu had fallen at the hands of his tribe, (.'aonabo 
resolved to attack the fortress. He made a league with the cacique of Marien, 
who dwelt to the westward of Guacanagari; and arrived in thevicinitjof the 
friendly t'hief 's village without his presence being suspected. Only ten men 
were in the forti-oss; the others were scattered around in .'arious houses of 
the village; and even the handful who remained at their post maintained no 
guard. 

The Caribs are supposed to have migrated from the mainland of North 
America; and we iind this attack upon the Spaniards much like the attacks 
upon English colonies within the bounds of the present United States. There 
was a sudden burst of frightful yells; and ])efore the startled sleepers realized 
what had happened, the whole place was .trapjx-d in flames, every point of 
egress barred by a phalanx of painted savages. Eight of the Spaniards rushed 
toward tlie sea; with what intent, we kno k' not; but plunging into the waves 
as a refuge from their savage foes, thej^ were drowned. The othei's were 
massacred. 

Guacanagari and his people suffered for having been friends to the whites; 
their village was attacked at the same time as the fortress; their huts were 
burned to the ground, several of his peoj)Ie killed, and the cacicpte himself 
wounded. 

Columbus visited the wounded cacique at his place of refuge, and the chief 
himself repaid the visit by coming to the fleet. The fact that although he 
claimed his wound was very painful, no external evidence could be perceived, 
excited the suspicions of some of the followers of Columbus; and Guacana- 
gari, seeing that he was not regarded with full contidence, as on previous oc- 
casions, returned to shore, and disappeared, with all his followers, during 
the night. This gave new force to their suspicions; and Guacanagari was 
generally regarded as the traitor and the destro3-er of the fortress. 

The crowded condition of the ships made it necessary for the Spaniards to 
land as soon as possil)le; but the associations connected with this beautiful 
point were not such as to make them desirous of rebuilding La Navidad. They 
accordingly weighed anchor, intending to proceed to a point at some distance; 
but, compelled by the weather to put in at a haibor about ten leagues to the 
east of Monte C-hristi, the Adnn'ral wasstruck withtheadvantagesand beauty 
of the situation, and gave orders to begin the building of a fortress and resi- 
dences. 

It was the middle of December; but in that land where there is no winter, 
the trees were in leaf, and the birds were singing as in spring. To the men 
who had been shut up on lioard ship for nearly three months, the beauty of 



THE SECOND VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS. 135 

this toeining plaiu must indeed liave appeared almost heavenly. An encamp- 
ment was at once formed about the point of land, protected on one side by 
(he impervious forest, and ou the other by a natural rampart of rocks; and 
the various artilicers who had been brought from Spain busied themselves in 
erecting the houses of the new city, Isabella. 

Streets were laid out, and the plaza, that indispensable part of a Spanish 
town, was marked out. A church, a public storehouse, and a residence for 
ihc Admiral, were begun, all built of stone. Private houses were built of 
reeds, wood, plaster, or any other material which ingenuity might suggest. 
For a short time, they all worked with feverish energy. Then the enthusiasm 
ran its course, and work became more distasteful. Many of them had suf- 
fered much from seasickness, having never been accustomed to the sea; and 
these needed rest and relaxation, rather than unremitting labor. Others, 
again, had been victims of scurvy, having lived so long upon salt provisions 
and mouldy sea-biscuit. Another source of disease was found in the un- 
wonted exposui-e, since everybody could not be housed at once; and in the 
rank exiialations of that moist, warm earth which produced such luxuriant 
vegetation. 

Ill in body and dispirited in mind, finding that gold was to be obtained only 
in small quantities and by dint of hard work, the adventurers were disheart- 
ened at the very outset. Columbus himself did not escape the prevailing 
evils, but was stretched on a sickbed for several weeks. There is nothing 
like necessity, however, for calling forth the best powers of the mind; and 
conscious that the success of the expedition lay almost entirely in his hands, 
Columbus felt that he must succeed. Thus, although the cares and respon- 
sibilities and distress regarding the destruction of the fortress weighed far 
more heavily on him than on any other, he did not give up; but continued, 
with indomitable energy, to direct from his sickbed the building of the city, 
and to give a general supervision to the affairs of the expedition. 

But this was not all that he had to think of. He had expected that when 
he returned to Hispaniola, he would find that the garrison of La Navidad had 
collected a considerable amount of treasure by trading with the natives; or 
that, at least, they would have ascertained where the richest mines lay, and 
where wore the sources of wealthy traffic. The destruction of the fortress 
luid of course ended all such hopes ; but there wex-e the ships, waiting to make 
Ihe return voyage, and there was for their cargo no such store of treasure as 
his royal patrons expected to receive. Thei-e was nothing to send in them. 

He decided that the island should be thoroughly explored; convinced that 
Cibao was but another form of the name Cipango, he was sure that there 
umst be rich and populous cities somewhere in the interior; and this terrible 
cacique, Caonabo, whose name signified "The Lord of the Golden House," 
was the very jiotentate from whom these stores of gold must be obtained. 



13fi THE SECOND VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS. 

As leader of tho exploring party he chose Alonzo de Ojeda, a Spanish cav- 
alier who had gained a great reputation for courage during the Moorish wars ; 
but whose bravery seems, to tho dispassionate eyes of the nineteenth century, 
rather foolhardy daring than true courage; for true courage does not court 
danger; it only faces it calmly when unavoidable. 

To such a man, however, this expedition into the interior was extremei.v 
alluring; and the more that was told him about the terrible reputation of 
Caonabo, the better pleased was ho to sec him in his mountain fastnesses. 

Many difficulties, I'csulting from tho nature of the country, were encoun- 
tered before they reached the mountains; but they were not molested by tho 
natives. The Indians, on the contrary, appeared to welcome them with kind- 
ness; the dreaded Caonabo was absent in some other part of his dominions, 
and only women and children were left to receive the strangers. 

Of course, they found no traces of the rich and magniticent cities which 
they had expected to behold; but they saw what seemed to them unmistaka- 
ble signs of the vast wealth of these regions. The sands of the mountain- 
streams glittered with particles of gold; nuggets of considerable size were 
sometimes found in the beds of these rivulets; and rocks were discovered, 
richly seamed and streaked with the 3'ellow metal. 

While Ojeda was absent on this exploring expedition, Colffmbus had sent 
another party, on a similar errand, in another direction, under the leadership 
of a young cavalier named Gorvalan. Both parties returned about the same 
time> bringing glowing accounts of the riches of the island. Columbus now 
felt assured that it was only necessary to explore the mines of Cibao thoroughly, 
in order to open up inexhaustible sources of wealth, and his sanguine expec- 
tations were fully shared by his followers. 

He dispatched twelve of the vessels of his fleet to Spain, sending such 
specimens of the wealth of the island as had been obtained ; and also, speci- 
mens of all the fruits, or plants which ajipeared to be valuable, or were par- 
ticularly curious. The natives captured in the Caribbee Islands were also 
sent, with a recommendation that they should be carefully instructed in the 
Spanish language and tho Christian faith. 

Columbus asked that further supplies tnight be sent him; as their provis- 
ions were already growing scanty, and much of their wine had been lost 
through the badness of the casks. The colony was also in need of medicines, 
clothing, and arms. In addition to these, workmen skilled in mining and 
smelting and purifying ore would be required if the teeming mines of Cibao 
were to be worked; while horses were needed to use on the public works 
and in tilling the ground, and also for military service; for the Indians, un- 
accustomed to any but the smallest quadrupeds, showed the greatest fear of 
the immense beasts, horses and horned cattle, which the Spaniards hail 
brought in their wonderful ships. 




SaULLNG A.MONG THE ISLAXDS. 



(137) 



13S Till-; SKtONI) V()VA(!K Ol' COMSIIU s. 

Coluiiibii.s had devised a selieme for fiiniishiiig tlio island with live stock 
which appears to us simply iiiliiimaii; to him, devout Christian as ho was, 
wishing for nothing more strongly than to advancethe interestsof the Church, 
♦^o fi-ce the II0I3' Land from the domination of the infidels, and to bring the 
whole world into the Christian fold, its advantages seemed to be so great that 
there was no question of right or wrong to l)e considered. He proposed that 
an exchange should be established, by which Spanish merchants were to send 
live stock direct to Isabella, and receive in ])aymcnt thcn^for slaves captured 
from the Caribs. A duty was to be levied on every slave so traded, for the 
benctit of the royal purse. 

The Admiral, thinking that he had reached the opulent countries of which 
Marco Polo had told, had long promised his royal patrons a large revenue 
from them. Trusting in these promises, they had incurred great expense 
in fitting out the second expedition. It was doubtful whether, at least 
during his absence, they would continue to grant money to pay expenses, 
where they had hoped to derive an income. He felt bound to suggest some 
way in which an income could be derived from the nc^w countries, without a 
long and tedious waiting till the mines should be developed. This was one 
reason which he had for making this suggestion. 

But it was not the one which made itseem right to his own mind. To many 
persons of that time, an observance of the forms prescribed by the Church 
appeared to be enough; it mattered little what the course pursued in the 
ordinary transactions of life might be. Columbus was one of these persons; 
to him, as to thousands of others, it seemed that if the Indians received a 
certain amount of instruction, and were then baptized, they would become 
by that fact Christians, and would be assured of Paradise. If, then, these 
savage islanders, who were in their own country only a perpetual menace to 
their i)eaceable neighbors, could be taken to Spain, even as slaves, and there 
taught the doctrines of the Christian Church, and be brought within its fold 
by baptism, surely the good that was done would far outweigh the evil which 
lay in slavery. 

Besides, it must be remembered that slavery was not then regarded as it is 
now. One great source of the revenue which Portugal derived from her 
African possessions was the sale of slaves, captured on the coast of that con- 
tinent. Colun)bus had doubtless made many voyages to Africa, had perhaps 
tngaged in this very trafiic; and did not regard a human chattel as a thing of 
which humanity cannot approve. 

The fleet sailed February 2, 1494. It was the intention of Columbus to 
explore the island in person as soon as possible; but at the time that the 
twelve vessels departed he was still confined to his bed. He was busily mak- 
ing arrangements for the expedition, however, in spite of being thus disabled; 
when his attention was engrossed by affairs of more pressing importance. 



THE SKCOND VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS. 139 

The men who had worked with much ardor at first upon the new city soon 
found their enthusiasm considerably cooled; and every day's work after that 
increased their discontent ; yet so strict was the rule of the Admiral that they 
were compelled, unless actually sick, to keep on with their task. They had 
also expected to find gold much more readily than they had done; and were 
correspondingly disappointed at the news that the mines lay some distance in 
the interior, and would have to be carefully and laboriously worked. The 
departure of the fleet at this time brought home to them the idea of their 
own country, and although obliged to serve out their term of enlistment, they 
were already sick of their bargain. 

When such a state of general dissatisfaction with the " powers that be " 
exists in any community, there is sure to be a leader ready. In this case it 
was Bernard Diaz de Pisa, who had come out as comptroller with tlie fleet, 
and who was so puffed up with his own importance that he had more than 
once questioned the authority of the Admiral, and had met with the result 
which might have been expected. Sore at such insults to his importance, he 
readily found followers among the dissatisfied; and proposed to them that 
they should seize upon the five remaining ships and return to Spain. Once 
there, they could easily explain their desertion, for the Admiral, as they all 
knew well, was overbearing and unjust, and had grossly misrepresented the 
wealth of these islands in the reports rendered to the sovereigns. Among 
these malcontents was an assayer named Fermin Cedo, who obstinately 
insisted that there was no gold in the island; or at least none in such quan- 
tities as to pay for the working. He refused to be convinced by the speci- 
mens that he saw, declaring that the large grains had been melted, and in 
some cases represented the accumulations of several generations; and that 
the largest pieces were far from being pure. This opinion of au expert, in 
which many of them, from sheer discontent against the Admiral, were ready 
to concur, would justify them, as they considered, in their complaint that 
Columbus had procured their enlistment by false representations, and was 
still endeavoring to deceive the sovereigns; and Diaz de Pisa boasted loudly 
that he had sufficient influence to obtain them a hearing at court. 

Fortunately, this conspiracy was discovered before it had made dangerous 
licadway. The ringleaders were at once, by the orders of Columbus, arrested, 
and a general search for incriminating evidence instituted. lu this search, 
they found, concealed in the buoy of one of the ships, a memorial in the 
handwriting of Diaz, full of the grossest misrepresentations of the Admiral. 

Although the conspiracy was thus proven, Columbus did not take harsh 
measures. He punished some of the inferior mutineers, but not as severely 
as their mutinous conduct had deserved; Diaz was confined on board one of 
the ships, until it should be convenient to send him to Spain for trial. 

But while thus lightly passing over a very grave offense, Columbus did not 



140 THE SECOND VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS. 

fail to take measures to prevent it from being repeated. He had all the guns 
and naval munitions taken out of four of the vessels and stored in the fifth, 
which was placed under the charge of men in whom he had entire confidence. 

Mild as was the punishment, and grave as was the offense, this occuryence 
was tho beginning of much of Columljus' future misfortune. Whatever 
might be the extent of his services to science, or however highly he might be 
regarded b}' the sovereigns, he was still, to these narrow-minded Spaniards, 
i foreigner. He stood alone; but every man that he punished had relatives 
,md friends in Spain, who thenceforth lost no opportunity of defaming the 
great discoverer. 

March 12, having attended to the punishment of those concerned in the 
mutiny, and set affairs to running smoothly again, Columbus set out on his 
journey to Cibao. His brother, Don Diego, was left in command of the settle- 
ment ; but tlie force at his disposal was but a weak one. Every healthy per- 
son who could possibly be spared accompanied the Admiral ; for he expected 
to form an establishment for working the mines, and besides, needed an 
escort sufficiently strong to assert the rights of the Spanish monarchs against 
the possible protests of the warlike savages M'ho ruled Cibao. 

Columbus penetrated to a point about eighteen leagues from Isabella, 
where he decided to build a strong fortress of wood, for the protection of 
such workmen as might be employed in the mines about this point. This 
fortress he named St. Thomas, intending the name to be a rebuke to those 
who declared that they would not believe in the golden treasures of Cibao 
until they had seen and touched them. AVhile the Admiral remained to 
superintend the building of this fortress, he sent a young cavalier, with a suf- 
ficient party, to explore the neighboring country. Having received a most 
favorable report from Luxan, the leader of this party, he placed Pedro Mar- 
garite in command of St. Thomas, with a garrison of fifty-six men, and re- 
turned to Isabella, which he reached March 29. 

He received here the most favorable reports of the results which their la- 
bor in tilling the ground had produced. All were alike astonished at the ease 
with which a large crop was produced, and at the shortness of the time re- 
quired to bring things to maturity. But while thus encouraged by the con- 
dition of affairs at Isabella, the Admiral received a message from Pedro 
Margarite to the effect that the Indians had changed in their behavior, and 
were threatening the safety of St. Thomas. Caonabo, it was said, was assem- 
bling his warriors, and preparing for an attack. This, however, did not oc- 
casion any special uneasiness in the mind of Columbus; he contented himself 
with sending Margarite a reinforcement of twenty men; believing that the 
Indians could be readily repulsed with the increased force, guns and horses 
adding to the advantages possessed by the white men. 

A greater source of anxiety was the condition of the colony. Very many 



THE SECOND VOYAGE OF COLUJIBUS. 141 

of the men were suffering from something like malaria, the effect of living in 
such heat and humidity, surrounded by undrained marshes and extensive 
forests. Their stock of medicines was exhausted ; and, to add to the general 
discontent, flour began to get scarce. Grain they had in plenty ; for wheat 
sown in January had ripened at the end of March; but their only contrivance 
for grinding it was a hand-mill; a process too slow and laborious when so large 
a quantity was required, and so few workmen to prepare it. 

The Admiral decided that a mill and some other works important for the 
welfare of the community must be erected at once. But many of the work- 
men were sick, and it appeared that it would be a long time before these 
buildings could be completed. In this emergency, since the gentlemen of the 
colony required food as much as the laborers, the ruler directed that each 
one, no matter what his rank, should share in the work for the common good. 
This was considered a cruel degradation by the proud young Spanish nobles, 
and they tried by every means to escape it. But discipline was strict, and 
Columbus was the supreme authority in the island; they were obliged to 
obey. 

In order to prevent the evils which arise from lack of occupation, Columbus 
determined, as soon as the pressing difficulty about food was settled, to send 
all the available force on an exploring expedition into the interior. Every 
healthy person, not absolutely necessary for the care of the sick, was accord- 
ingly put under arms; they numbered nearly four hundred, including the 
officers; and under the command of Ojeda, set out for St. Thomas. Here 
Ojeda was to remain in command of the post, while Margarita was to conduct 
the main body of the troops on a military tour, for the thorough exploration 
tirst of Cibao, and then of the other parts of the island. 

Written instructions were sent to Mai-garite, to treat the Indians kindly 
and justly, but to deal rigorously with any who were detected in theft; all re- 
el aired supplies were to be purchased, not taken by force. A strict discipline 
was to be maintained among his men, and they were not to be suffered to 
wander from the main body. 

It was the intention of Columbus to make another voyage of discovery in 
the bays and channels to the west of their present situation. For this pur- 
pose he would need no more than the force required to man the vessels which 
he intended to take. Having made arrangements for the government of the 
colony during his absence, by appointing a junta of which his brother Don 
Diego was president, he set out upon this voyage. 

The two largest ships were left at Isabella, as being unfit for purposes of 
exploration; the others, of light draught, and therefore able to penetrate 
where the others could not go, were chosen for the purpose. He intended to 
visit Cuba, reaching it at about the point where he had discontinued his ex- 
plorations on his first voyage, and following its coast-line until he should 



142 THE SECOND VOYAGE OF COLIMBUS. 

rcacli — if it wcio indeed the extremity of the continent of Asia — llie wealtliy 
and populcnis lauds described l)y Polo and IMandcvilie. 

Had he kept to tiiis intention, ho would of course have found that Culia 
was an island ; but he was attracted by tlie appearance of Jamaica, and sailed 
toward that body of land, being assui-cd by the ("ul)ans that gold was to be 
found there. He reached the western extremity of the island, when the wind 
changed, and V)ccame unfavorable for further advance. He accordingly re- 
turned to Cuba, where he endeavored to learn from the people sonietliiiig of 
its extent. Several caciques assured him that it was endless; an assertion 
which he was quite willing to believe. At last, one of them told him that he 
could learu more from the inhabitants of a country to the west, called Mangou. 
The word was welcome to his cars; for was it not the same as Mangi, the 
name of the richest province of Cathay? To add to the certainty, this cacique 
informed liim that the people of Mangon had tails like those of animals; 
and wore long garments to conceal the deformity. He at once recalled a 
story told by Sir John Mandeville, of a people of the far east who could im- 
agine no reason for their neighbors' wearing clothes, unless they had some- 
thing of the kind to hide ; and who accordingly circulated the report that these 
neighbors had tails. As for the garments, it was a well-known fact that the 
subjects of the great Khan wore long flowing robes of richest texture. 

But they found themselves involved in narrow and shallow channels, alinost 
choked with sand, where they found it impossible to proceed until they sa\\- 
that they could not get out any other way. Tlieir vessels had received con- 
siderable injury, having run aground often, and had to be helped along 
by the use of the capstan. Their cables and rigging were worn, their pro- 
visions scanty aud becoming untit for use, and the crews worn out by inces- 
sant labor. Still they had not found any sign of a civilized people; and they 
demanded that the vessels should be turned toward Isabella. It was certain, 
they said, that this vast body of land could not be an island; for they had 
already coasted three huiulred and thirty-tive leagues, aud yet saw no sign of 
any end to the land. Columbus, anxious to prove that this was the view of 
all on board, sent a notary around to every person on l)oard the vessels, from 
the master to the cabin-boy, to ask each if he had any doubt that this land 
was not an island; if he had the slightest, he was at once to declare it, and 
the reasons for it, that the matter might be investigated at once, and forever 
set at rest. Each one declared, under oath, that he believed this to be a part 
of the mainland of Asia. Many experienced navigators, aud others well versed 
in the geographical knowledge of the day, wore on board, and this opinion 
was on their part, the result of careful study of their charts, and mature de- 
liberaiion. 

Yet at the very time that those aHidavits were made, they were abnost with- 
m sight of the group of islands to the s^uth; Ijcyond which, after an hour's 



THE SK(OM> VOVAUK OF COLUJIBUS. I'^'d 

sail, they might h:ive seen the open sea. Two or three days;' advance wouhl 
have proved to Columbus that this belief that Cuba was a part of the main- 
land was a mistake; but this proof was never given him; he died in the be- 
lief that this was the extremity of the Asiatic continent. 

Losing sight of the eastern extremity of Jamaica August 19, they sailed to- 
ward Ilispaniola. But on the way thither, Columbus was seized with a strange 
sickness. The hardships and privations which he had shared with his men, 
joined to the anxieties and responsibilities which were his alone, hud proved 
too much for his years; for he was now past sixty, and his life had been so 
full of cares and adventures and hardships that his years pressed heavily up- 
on him. While his vessels were struggling to make their way through peril- 
ous and unknown channels, he was ever on the alert; fortheirsafetydepended 
on his watchfulness. While there was still an immediate prospect of reach- 
ing the territories of the Khan, excitement kept him up. But when this hope 
was abandoned for the present, and the caravels rode in a calm and well-known 
sea, he gave way, and sank into a deep slumber which closely resembled 
death. 

His frightened crew hastened toward Isabella, followed by the two other 
caravels, arriving there Sept. 4. The unconscious Admiral was conveyed on 
shore to his residence, and the utmost available skill exercised to effect a 
cure. 

When he became conscious of his surroundings, what was his surprise to 
tind his bi'other Bartholomew at his bedside! This was the brother who had 
undertaken to lay before Henry VH. of England, the great project of a west- 
ern route to India. Captured and plundered by a corsair, he was delayed in 
reaching his destination for several years. Arrived at London, he submitted 
I he question to the King, who acted more readily than Ferdinand and Isabella, 
liartholomew was bidden to return to Spain, to bring his brother to England, 
that final arrangements might be made. On reaching Paris, he learned, for 
the first time, that the tardy Spanish sovereigns had provided the armament 
for which his brother had asked, the great discovery had been made, and the 
two vessels had returned in safety. 

The Admiral was the darling of fortune at the Spanish court; and his 
brother felt his reflected glory even in Paris, distantas it then was from Mad- 
rid and Barcelona; for the distance between the two places is to be reckon- 
ed, not by miles, but by the time required to reach one from the other. But 
although the brother of the greatest man then living, he was short of money. 
This, however, was easily remedied; and no less a personage than the King 
of France furnished money to defray the expenses of his journey from Paris 
to Seville. 

He reached Seville just as the Admiral had departed on his second voyage. 
Repairing at once to the court, he was well received; and Ferdinand and Isa- 



144 



THK .SKCUNIl VOYAUK OF COLUMBU8. 



bollii, undorstaiuling thai lie was an able and experienced navigattn-, ga\ c liini 
three vessels, freighted with supplies for the infant colony, and sent him to 
his brother's aid. Again he arrived just too late; reaching Isabella a few 
days after the expedition for the exploration of Cuba had sailed. 




BaRTHOLOMKW COI.IMBWS. 

Columbus uo\v^ had his two brothers at his side. *' I have never had any 
better friend," he wrote to his sons, " on my right hand and on my left han<l. 
than my brothers." Diego was of a gentle and retiring disposition, scarcely 
fitted for the command of men ; but Bartholomew more closely resembled 
his brother Christopher. 

The Admiral accordingly determined to relieve himself, during his present 
ill-health, of the cares of state; and appointed his brother Bartholomew 
Adelantado, or lieutenant-governor. This appointment was much resented by 



THE SECOND VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS. 145 

the sovereigns, when the}- heard of it ; as they considered that officers of such 
high i-ank ought to be appointed by them only. This was one instance in 
which the star of Columbus began to wane; henceforward, we find many such 
cases, until it sets at last, in obscurity, disgrace, and death. 

We have seen the departure of Pedro Margarite from St. Thomas, with his 
little army of about four hundred men. He disregarded the instructions of 
Columbus almost from the start; and succeeded in niakiug enemies of the 
gentle and peaceable natives. He was reproved by Diego Columbus and his 
council ; but disregarded the reproof, refusing to acknowledge their author- 
ity. He found a willing lieutenant in his defiance in Friar Boyle, or Buil, as 
the name is sometimes written; who was the head of the religious fraternity, 
a member of the council, and apostolical vicar of the New World. It is not 
easy to find why this priest should have been so determined an enemy of Co- 
lumbus ; but throHghout the history of the colony he had thrown difficulties 
in the way of the Admiral, and now joined himself with the rebel Margarite. 

They decided to return to Spain; and seizing upon the vessels which had 
brought out Bartholomew Columbus, they set sail, accompanied by those who 
were discontented with their residence in the colony and displeased with the 
rule of Columbus. The departure of ilargarite left the army without a head; 
and the soldiers scattered in small bands over the country, indulging in all 
kinds of excesses. The Indians had become changed, by the treatment re- 
ceived at the hands of the Spaniards, into vindictive enemies; and M^henever 
they met small parties of soldiers, attacked and slew them. Success made 
them bolder; and Guarionex, one of the caciques, put to death ten Spaniards 
who had quartered themselves in his town, and followed up the massacre by 
setting fire to a house in which forty-six of their countrymen were lodged. 
He then threatened to attack a small fortress which had been built in his 
neighborhood; and the garrison was obliged, through fear of him, to remain 
shut up until reinforcements could reach them. 

A more formidable enemy still was Caonabo, who had been enraged by the 
erection of the fortress St. Thomas within the very center of his dominions. 
He asseml)led an army of ten thousand warriors, and stole through the forest, 
hoping to find the fortress but slightly guarded. But Ojeda was not the 
soldier to be destroyed because he felt too secure; his forces were drawn up 
within the stronghold, and Caonabo saw that an attack by his naked warriors 
would be hopeless. 

Still he did not despair; but surrounding the fort, and shutting up every 
path through the forest by which relief might come, proceeded to reduce it 
by famine. The siege lasted for thirty days, and the garrison was reduced to 
great distress. It was novv that Ojeda showed anobler courage than even his 
daring feats during the Moorish wars had indicated; constantly leading his 
men wherever opportunity offered for a successful sally, he wrought great 
10 



146 TlIK .SKCONl) AOVACK <)K COI.r.MltlS. 

havoc iu the ranks of the cucuiy, iiiul tinally wore out (lie jjaliencc of thr 
savages. The siege was raised and Caonabo retired. 

But the cacique did not despair of reducing the white power in the ishind; 
he formed tlie design of securing the assistance of the otlicr cacicjues — there 
were five principal rulers iu Hispaniola — and making a concerted attack upon 
Isabella, the weakness of which was well known to him. But this design 
proved impracticable by reason of Guacanagari's fidelity to the Spaniards. 
His territories laj' nearest the town; and without his assistance, or at least 
connivance, they could not hope to accomplish their end. The angry savages 
made several attacks upon hin), hoping to force hira to yield; and inflicted 
various injuries upon him and his people; but he remained firm in what he 
considered his duty to the strangers; and for awhile the Spaniards were safer 
than, as a whole, they deserved to be. 

Columbus, although still unable to leave his bed, was obliged to take active 
measures to undo the mischief that had been done during his absence. lie 
received a visit from Guacanagari, and cemented a friendship with the faith- 
ful Indian. He took measures to puuish the tributary cacique who had mas- 
sacred the Spaniards at Fort Magdalena, managing at the same time to avoid 
warwith his superior chief, (iuariouex; and to establish a fort in tlie very 
midst of his territories. 

But the most formidable enemy of all was Caonabo, who was yet untouched 
l)y any negotiation. Ojeda requested the privilege of trying to cajjture him, 
and Columbus readily assented. 

The cavalier chose ten followers, of whose courage he \vas well assured; 
and set out for the territory of the cacique. Approaching him with nmch 
deference, he represented himself as an envoy from the Grand Cacique of 
the Spaniards, sent to treat with the great Chief Caonabo on equal terms. 
The savage, greatly flattered at the idea, received him kindly and entertained 
him handsomely. There was no one whom Columbus could have sent who 
would have been received with more respect ; for Caonabo had tried Ojeda's 
skill and courage as a wari-ior, and looked up to him accordingly. 

The cavalier's skill in all the manly exercises practiced by the knights of 
that day excited still further the admiration of the cacique; and what was 
apparently a warm friendship sprang up between them. But one was wily 
{IS the otlicr; the cavalier was M'aiting to entrap the chief ; and the chief was 
iletermiucd to outwit the cavalier. 

At last, Ojeda broached the subject of a treaty between his host and the 
Spaniards, and begged the cacique to goto Isabella to conclude one with Co- 
lumbus. The chief hesitated; one inducement after another was offered; 
and finallj' Ojeda promised him the bell of the chapel. This bell was regarded 
by the Indians as possessed of magical powers; they had seen the Spaniards 
hurrying to mass at the sound of it, and were accustomed to say that it could 



THE SECOND VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS. 147 

tiilk. They called it tureij, a word which they frequently applied to the be- 
longings of the strangers, and which really meant in their language, heavenly. 
The idea of possessing the turey talking bell was too much for Caonabo's 
persistence; he agreed to go to Isabella and make a treaty of peace with 
Columbus. 

Ojcda congratulated himself upon his success; and anxiously awaited the 
day set by the cacique for their departure. It came, and with it Caonabo, 
attended by an armed force of fully five thousand warriors. Aghast at this 
display of power, Ojeda demanded to know why be took such a force with 
liim upon a mere friendly visit; Caonabo replied that it did not become a 
great cacique like himself to travel without many attendants. Ojeda pro- 
fessed himself satisfied, although he feared that it was the intention of Cao- 
nabo to surprise the fortress, or make some attempt on the person of Colum- 
bus, and Ojeda was well aware of what would become of the colony without 
Ihe Admiral at the head of its affairs. 

As they journeyed onward, he revolved in his mind various schemes to ob- 
tain possession of the person of Caonabo without exciting the suspicions of 
Ills men. At last he hit upon one. Having halted one day near the Little 
Yagui,the cavalier produced a pair of brightly burnished steel handcuffs, and 
displayed them to the wondering chief. In reply to his question as to their 
imrpose, Ojeda gravely informed him that they were a kind of bracelet worn, 
on state occasions, by the Spanish King; and that these had been sent as a 
present to the great cacique Caonabo. He proposed that the chief should go 
to the river and bathe, after which he should be invested with these bracelets, 
and set upon Ojeda's horse, so as to astonish his people by assuming the state 
of a Spanish monarch. Caonabo was quite ready to assent; pleased as a 
child at the idea of mounting the horse, he was by no means disappointed 
when Ojeda explained that of course he would himself ride in front, and 
guide the animal; for the bravest of the Indians were still somewhat afraid 
of the strange beasts. 

The program was carried out, as Ojeda had planned it. Caonabo repaired 
to the river and bathed — probably the fastidious cavalier had good reason to 
insist on this preliminary — was assisted to mount behind Ojeda, and the gyves 
were adjusted on his wrists, and closed with a snap. Proudly he sat, as they 
rode into the presence of his assembled men ; and proudly he called their at- 
tention to the turey bracelets of shining white metal, unlike any that they 
possessed. The Indians gazed admiringly, while Ojeda, telling Caonabo thai 
the Sjoanish monarchswere accustomed to ride in cii'cles about their subjects, 
gave reign to his horse, and rode about the Indians. So absorbed were they 
in watching the new grandeur of their chief that they did not notice how 
Ojeda's men had withdrawn from their midst, and had in fact quite disap- 
peared. Wider and wider grew the circles, until they carried the ridei's quite 



148 THE SECOND VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS. 

out of .sight. Siuldculy, Caonabo t>a\v himself surrounded by Ojeda.s men, 
and was told that death would be the result if lie made any outcry. His own 
followers were out of si<iht and hcarinji; and, a liel])less prisoner in the hands 
of the Spaniards, he was taken to Isabella. 

Curiously enough, this ex|)loit did not diminish the liking or respect which 
Caonabo entertained for Ojeda ; it rather increased his respect, since the caval- 
ier had daring and cunning enough to carry off a chief from the midst of his 
warriors, without provoking a battle. lie manifested much more reverence 
for his captor than for the Admiral, saying disdainfully that C^olumbus had 
never dared come to his home personally and seize him. 

The great enemy of disoi'der being thus helpless, and onl^' awaiting the de- 
parture of a vessel to be sent to Spain for trial, Columbus was at full liberty 
to attend to other needs of his colony. Much of the existing distress was 
allayed by the arrival of four ships; which brought not only the necessary 
supplies, but also a physician and an apothecary, and workmen of various 
trades. 

The letters received by this fleet were of the most gratifying kind; express- 
ing, as they did, the royal approval of all that Columbus had done; and in- 
forming him that arrangements would be made to dispatch a caravel euch 
month from Spain, and directing that one should sail from Isabella at the 
same interval. A letter addressed to the <'oIonists collectively bade them 
obey Columbus implicitly, threatening punishment for each offense against 
the regulations he might enact. 

Eager to send home such evidences of the wealth of the country as he could, 
Columbus collected all the gold possible, and with specimens of other metals, 
various fruits, and valuable plants, he freighted the vessels. But these inno- 
cent articles of commerce were not all. Five hundred Indian captives were 
sent to be sold as slaves in Seville. 

The capture of Caonabo had not put an end to the Indian league, as the 
Spaniards had hoped. The leadership was taken up by the brother of the 
cacique, Mauicaotex, and by the neighboring cacique Behccio, whose sister, 
Anacaona, was the favorite wife of Caonabo. Columbus learned that the 
Indian force was assembled in the Vega, but two days' journey from Isabella; 
and that they intended marching upon the settlement, and overwhelming it 
by pure force of numbers. lie hastily assembled his little army — two hundred 
infantry, and a cavalry force of twenty, the latter under the leadership of 
Ojeda. His soldiers were armed with cross-bows, swords, lances, and the 
heavy arquebuses then in use; which were so unwieldy that they were usually 
provided with a rest, and sometimes were mounted on wheels. Ilis men were 
cased in steel and covered by their great bucklers; and thus equipped, formed 
a force which could with safety attack twenty times their number of naked 
savages. They had another assistance in their fight — they were accompanied 



THE SECOND VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS. 149 

by about twenty blood-hounds, which, at a word from their masters, would 
spring upon the enemy, drag them to the earth, and tear them to pieces. 

March 27, 1495, Columbus issued from the gates of Isabella and proceeded 
toward the Vega with his little army. The Indians were hid in the forest 
which on all sides suiTOunded this beautiful open plain; but they sent their 
■ scouts to count the enemy. They had but little skill in arithmetic, and had 
no word in their language for a higher number than ten; they were accus- 
tomed, however, to give accurate reports of the force brought by an enemy, 
by allowing a grain of corn for each warrior, and displaying the number to 
the cacique. In the present case, it was a mere handful; and the Indians 
felt confident of victory. 

By skillful maneuvering, Columbus managed to get his enemies all into 
one body, on a plain interspersed with clusters of forest trees, near the spot 
where the town of St. Jago now stands. By the advice of Don Bartholomew, 
he divided his force into several detachments, and advanced upon them from 
several directions at once. 

The sudden clamor of the drums and trumpets alarmed the Indians; and 
almost at the same moment that these were heard, a destructive fire was 
poured from the groups of trees. It seemed that thunder and lightning had 
been brought down from heaven for their destruction ; and upon the miserable 
frightened wretches poured a steady rain of arrows. The cavalry dashed in 
upon them, hacking and hewing as they rode them down; and the terrible 
blood-hounds were let loose, seizing the naked savages by the throat and 
dragging them to the earth, to be literally torn to pieces. Such was the war- 
fare of a Christian nation at the end of the fifteenth century; at the end of 
the nineteenth, the process is simpler and more refined; a machine-gun is 
brought up, and volley after volley of shot poured upon the enemy; or a 
shell is sent shrieking through the air, to explode in the midst of the camp. 

Well satisfied with the decisive victory thus obtained, Columbus returned 
to Isabella ; and almost immediately set out upon a military tour of the island, 
to reduce the other inhabitants to subjection. All the caciques except Behe- 
cio were brought to sue for peace; and he retired with his sister, to the dis- 
tant part of the island which was his by right. 

Columbus had at first dreamed of ruling these people as their benefactor. 
The wrongs done them by his own followers had prevented the possibility of 
this; and he now must rule them as a conqueror. He accordingly demanded 
that they should pay him tribute. In the regions of the mines, each Indian 
above the age of fourteen was required to pay, every three months, a hawks" 
bell full of gold-dust — an amount equivalent, at the present day, to about fif- 
teen dollars of United States money. Those who lived where gold was not 
obtainable, were required to furnish, instead, twenty-five pounds of cotton 
each, and at the same interval of time. Copper medals were struck, different 



160 



TMK SICOOM) VOVAOK OF COLUMBL.x. 



for ciich quarter of the year; and given as receipts to the Indians who hail 
paid their tribute, to be worn suspended around their necks. The cacique> 
were reijuired to pay a much larger personal ti-ihute, of course, than their 
subjects. 




Spaxiahds Skttino Dor.s os Indians. 
(From an Old Engraving.) 

The fortresses already built were strengthened, and others were erected, in 
order to keep the Indians in subjection, and enforce the payment of this trib- 
ute. It was not paid without protest. Guarioncx represented to Colunil)us 
that there were no mines in his district; that the only gold was in the grains 
^\•ashod down by the streams, which his people were not skilled in collecting. 
IIo offered, instead of this tribute, to cultivate a strip of ground from sea to 
sea, and pay the grain in place of the gold; but although, according to the 
calculation of a contemporary historian, this was enough, in one year, to have 



THK SKCOND VOYAGE OF COLUMHUS. 151 

fed the whole population of Castile for ten jears, the proposition was rejected. 
Columbue, however, compromised with the cacique, agreeing to accept one- 
half the quantity which had becu originally demanded. 

A patient people may bear tyranny a longtime ; but there is a point beyond 
which patience not only ceases to be a virtue, but to be a possibility. The 
Indians had now reached that point; they could not pay the tribute which 
was demanded; and they resolved to rid themselves forever of the white 
tien. 

The}' had tried war, and found themselves beaten. They now resolved to 
starve the Spaniards out. But iu making this effort, they seemed to forget 
that they too must suffer; and in fact they did suffer far more than the Span- 
iards did Many thousands of them perished miserably, of hunger, or disease 
produced by privation, or exhaustion brought on by exertion under such con- 
ditions. The remnant of them crept back to their homes, submitting humbly 
to the harsh rule of the conquerors. 

While these things were going on, Margarite and Friar Boyle had reached 
Spain, and laid their case before the court. They accused Columbus of de- 
ceiving his royal patrons regarding the wealth to be derived from the islands, 
which they declared would always be a source of expense rather than of 
profit ; and they declared that he had treated his followers harshly and cruelly ; 
laying especial stress upon the indignities which he had heaped upon the gen- 
tlemen of the colony. It was the signal for the sovereigns to withdraw their 
favor from Columbus; and gradually from this time forth, we find them hold- 
ing him in less esteem. Fortunately for him, however, the representations of 
Margarite and his reverend accomplice had hardly reached the royal ear when 
the ships commanded by Torres arrived in Spain, bringing information that 
Columbus had returned from his voyage of discovery to Isabella, and was 
fully assured that Cuba was a part of the mainland of Asia. The effect was 
immediately apparent ; instead of leaving the appointment of a commissioner 
to investigate atfairs in Hispaniola to Fonseca, almost an open enemy of 
Columbus, the King and Queen took the matter in i.and themselves, and ap- 
pointed Juan Aguado. He had accompanied Columbus to Hispaniola, and 
on his return to Spain had been strongly recommended to royal favor by the 
Admiral. It was generally thought, then, that Ferdinand and Isabella had 
acted directly in the interests of Columbus by appointing this man to inspect 
the affairs of the colony. 

As to the Indian prisoners who were sent to be sold as slaves, the Queen 
did not altogether approve of the idea. A royal order had been issued per- 
mitting the sale; but within five days thereafter it was suspended, until the 
sovereigns could inquire into the matter, and learn from wise and pious the- 
ologians whether they might with a clear conscience allow the sale to go on. 
The priests differed much upon the subject ; and the Queen finally decided it 



l.')2 THE SECOND VOYAOE OF COLUMBUS. 

for herself. Slio oi'dered that the Indians should be sent back to Hispauiola, 
and that only the gentlest means should bo used in the effort to convert them 
to Christianity. Thus amid the temptations of a (jucen-regnant's position did 
Isabella of Castile keep her faith unspotted from the world, and decide a 
vexed questi(m in aeoordance with the true teachings of the religion which 
she i)rofessed. 

Aguado arrived at Isabellii while C'olumbus was still absent on his tour 
through the island. His arrival was the signal for disorder of all kinds; for 
he gave out that he was come to right every wrong that had been done bj' the 
Admiral. The report was circulated that the downfall of Columbus and his 
family was at hand; Aguado refused to acknowledge the authority of the 
Adelantado; and a report was actually circulated through the island that a 
new Admiral had arrived; and that the old one was to be put to death. 

Undoubtedly there were evils existing in the colony; some of them were 
brought about by the officials, some by the colonists ; some of them had arisen 
without much fault on either side. But whether it was the misdeeds of the 
colonists, the neglect of the orders of Columbus by the minor officials, orany 
other cause which produced them, the ungrateful xVguado, " dressed in a lit- 
tle brief authority," displayed his weakness of head and heart by blaming all 
upon Columbus. Nor was this all; he interfered in the government ; ordered 
the arrest of some persons; called to account the officers ai)pointed by the 
Admiral; and refused to respect any of his regulations. He finally insinuated 
that the prolonged absence of Columbus was due to fear of the royal com- 
missioner's investigation. 

Columbus returned, having heard of the arrival of Aguado and of his 
behavior. Much to Aguado's disappointment, he ])ehaved with grave and 
punctilious courtesy; and ordered the letter of credence which the envoy had 
brought to be publicly proclaimed the second time, that all might hear the 
will of the sovereigns. Aguado had hoped that he would indulge in violent 
language, which might be construed as disrespectful to the royal authority; 
but Columbus was too wary for this. 

Everywhere, however, Columl)us was looked upon as the setting, and 
Aguado as the rising sun. Even the Indians, hoping sonu'thing from a 
change of masters, brought their complaints against the Admiral, as the 
author of all the wrongs that they had suffered. Aguado considered that he 
had collected enough testimony to ruin his benefactor, and prepared to return 
to Spain, to lay it all before Ferdinand and Isalx-lla. 

Columbus resolved to return, also; knowing that he had no friends at 
court, but many enemies. But just as they were ready to depart, a terrible 
hurricane, such as the Spaniards had never before seen or heard of, and more 
destructive than any that the Indians had ever witnessed, swept over the 
island. The four caravels of Aguado were completely desti'oyed ; also two 




A-N' Aboriginal Race Working in Mines. 



(153) 



154 THE SECOND VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS. 

others, which wore in the harbor with thcni. The JVina was the only vessel 
that survived the storm; and it would have been foolhardy to attempt the 
voyage in her alone. C'olumbus at once gave orders that new vessels should 
be constructed from the fi-aginents of those destroyed. 

During the delay thus occasioned, welcome tidings reached the settlement : 
mines of great imijortance had at last been discovered. The discovery was 
brought about by singular and romantic mc-ans. A young Spaniard, Miguel 
Diaz, had wounded a comrade in a quarrel, and fearing the jjunishment whiclif 
would be meted out to him by the Adelantado, he fled into the M'ilderness. 
He was accompanied by five or six comrades, Avho, like himself, had " left 
their country [or colony] for their country's good." Kindly received by the 
Indians who were settled near the mouth of the Ozema, governed by a female 
cacique, they renuiined there for some time. Diaz and the cacique loved 
each other, and she became his wife; by the simple Indian ceremony. But he 
grew homesick for civilization; and she, fearing to lose him, resolved to de- 
vise some means of enticing the Spaniards to that part of the island. She 
told hiiu of rich mines in the neighborhood, and urged him to invito them to 
leave the unhealthful situation of Isabella, and settle near the villages of her 
people. He caught at the suggestion; and finding upon investigation that 
the mines were indec<l rich, he set off to Isabella, about fifty leagues away 
I hrough the trackless forest. The guides with which his wife had furnished 
him, however, found their way; and he brought the welcome tidings to the 
Admiral, just at the time when such news was more welcome than ever it 
would have been before this time of trial. 

Assured that the wounded man had recovered, that no punishment awaite<l 
liim, and that he had rendered a great service to the Admiral, as well as to his 
sovereigns, it was with a light heartthat young Diaz set out on the homeward 
journey, as the guides of the Adelantado. 

Bartholomew Columbus returned with a most favorable rej)ort, and valua- 
l)le specimens of gold which had been found with little diiSculty. He reported 
also that there was some evidence that the mines had been regularly worked 
in some former time, though the Indians now contented themselves with such 
gold as could be separated from the sands of the river by the simplest i)ro- 
cess of washing. With his usual splendor of imagination, Columbus at once 
jumped to the conclusion that these were the ancient mines of Ophir, whence 
King Solomon had derived the vast amount of gold used in the temple. 

But whoever had worked the mines in the past, the fact that they had been 
discovered in the present was enough to gild all the dreams of Columl)us, and 
to make him sure of a more favorable reception at court than he might 
otherwise have been granted. As soon as the second caravel was conqjleted, 
they made ready to depart; Colund)us in one, Aguado in the other; an<l 
March 10, 14U6, they set sail from Isabella for Spain. 



CHAPTER V. 

THE LAST A'OYAGES OF COLUMBUS. 

Arrival at Cadiz— Reception at Court — "Gold in Bars'' — A Thoughtful Queen — Third 
Voyage of Columbus — Departure from Spain — La Trinidad — The Continent Discovered — The 
Ijiind of Pearls — The Earthly Paradise — Building of San Domingo — Conspiracy of Indians — 
lloldan's Rebellion — Dangers of the Government — Indian Insurrection— Guarionex Captured 
— Roldan's Luck — Terms Made with the Rebels — Bobadilla in Hispaniola — His Course — 
Uncertainty of Columbus — Return to San Domingo — Columbus in Chains — His Brothers 
Arrested — The "Reward of Services" — Embarkation of Columbus — Arrival in Spain — 
Ferdinand's Jealousy and Distrust — Ovando Appointed Governor — Wrongs of the Indians — 
A Great Fleet — Columbus Plans a Crusade — Ferdinand's Substitute — Fourth Voyage of Colum- 
bus — Sails from Spain — Ovando Refuses Shelter — His Ships — The Predicted Storm — Results — 
Cruising — Adventures on Land — A Daring Messenger — Reaches Jamaica — Courage of Mendez 
— Anxiety of the Castaways — Mutiny of Porras — Columbus Predicts an Eclipse — Terror of the 
Natives — An Insolent Messenger — The Mutiny Ended — Assistance Arrives — Columbus 
Reaches Spain — Death of Isabella — Illness of Columbus — Assistance of Vespucius — Ferdi- 
nand's Delay — A Compromise Proposed — Rejection — A Last Gleam of Hope — Death of 
Columbus — His Burial — Ceremonies Attending the Removal to Havana. 



(bJiTE 



HE two vessels had expected to purchase food from the natives of the 
' I neighboring ishmds ; but in this they were disappointed. In conse- 
quence tliere was nearly a famine on board before the end of the voy- 
age was reached; and the lirmness and determination of Cokunbus alone 
saved the half-starved sailors from killing and eating the Indian prisoners, 
among whom was Caonabo. 

After many delays, they arrived at Cadiz June IL Columbus found in 
the harbor three caravels ready to sail with supplies for the colony; and 
the letters which were to have been delivered to him at Isabella were put 
into his hands at Cadiz. Sending careful instructions to his subordinates 
in accordance with the wishes of the sovereigns, as here expressed, he pro- 
ceeded to notify the King and Queen formally of his arrival. 

Their reply reached him July 12; it congratulated him on his safe re- 
turn, and invited him to repair to court when he should have recovered from 
the fatigues of his journey. The tenor of this letter was a surprise to Co- 
lumbus, who had expected, after the behavior of Aguado, to find that he 
was in deep disgrace at court. Surprised and delighted to find that Fer- 
dinand and Isabella retained their appreciation of the services which he 
had rendered, and were apparently not infiuenced by the efl^brts of his 
slanderous enemies, Columbus proposed to them a new enterprise. 

But Ferdinand was then engaged in extensive military operations, the ob- 

(155) 



THE LAST VOYAOES OK COLtTMBUS. 157 

ject of which was to add to his dominions the kingdom of Naples; he was 
also busily arranging such marriages for his children as would be likely to 
extend his empire. Both enterprises took time and money; and it was only 
after considerable delay that Columbus obtained a grant of six millions of 
maravcdis — equivalent, in present value, to about fifty-four thousand dollars 
in United States money — to fit out the squadron which he had requested. 

But money granted is not money secured. Just as "the law's delay" 
seemed to be over, and Columbus was definitely promised this sum from the 
royal treasury, Pedro Nino, a captain of the fleet with which Columbus had 
sailed to Ilispaniola, arrived at Cadiz with three caravels, freighted, he said, 
with gold in bars. Instead of making a formal report as soon as he landed, 
he went straight to his home in Huelva, to visit his family. 

The report of the "gold in bars" raised the wildest expectations, not only in 
the people, but in Columbus and the sovereigns. To the King, especially, 
the news was welcome; and he appropriated, for the purpose of repairing a 
fortress, the sum which had been granted to Columbus, arranging that the 
Admiral should draw the equivalent amount from the cargo of Nino's vessels. 

Meanwhile, all were upon the tiptoe of expectation, to see the first great 
amount of treasure which had been brought from the New World. Colum- 
bus readily understood whence it had come ; the newly discovered mines of 
Hayna, the ancient Ophir, were beginning to yield up their vast stores of 
yellow metal; and since this came so soon after their opening, it was evident 
that the quantity of gold there to be found was something wonderful, incal' 
culable. 

Nino returned to his vessels; and then the truth was made known. He 
was a miserable maker of jokes; the " gold in bars," the rumor of which had 
created such excitement, was represented by the Indians whom he had 
brought, and who were expected, when sold as slaves, to furnish gold in con- 
siderable quantities. 

The ready money which was to furnish the ships had been spent on the 
frontier fortress, and there was nothing for Columbus to do but to wait until 
another grant had been made. The King had never been as favorably dis- 
posed toward the enterprise as the Queen had shown herself; and his mind 
was now more readily poisoned against Columbus. He did not see any proofs 
: of the great wealth which the Admiral had promised, and he scarcely believed 
that there was any foundation for these golden expectations. Isabella, how- 
ever, seems to have been actuated by different motives; less narrow-minded 
I than Ferdinand, she saw that, whether the colony continued to be a source 
I of expense or not, much was ultimately to be gained by supporting it, and by 
furnishing Columbus with the means to prosecute his plans. But the Queen's 
resources were limited; the treasury of Castile had furnished a marriage- 
portion to the Princess Juana, and had liberally endowed Prince Juan, the 



1J8 



Tin; i.\>r \<)K\<;k,' 



Ol.lMlil >. 



Iicir to tho lliroiiP, wlu'ii he iiiariied an Austrian princos in tlic spring of 
14;t7. Tlie Princess Isabella was now betrothed to the young King of Tortu- 
gal, the successor of King John; and a nuirriage-portion must be found 
for her. 

Still, the Queen considered carefully the 4ue»tion of how these vessels 
were to be furnished; until her attention was distracted from state aifairs 
by the death of her son, a few months after his marriage. Even in her grief, 
she was not unmindful of Columbus; his two sous had been pages in the 
household of the prince; she now ordered that they .-nould hold a similar 
office in her own. 




"Gold in Bai:s." 

There was no danger then, that Isal)ella would forget the great discover- 
er and the services Avhich he had rendered. The difficulty was, as we liave 
seen, for her to find the money; and she at last actually took it from that 
which had been set aside as the marriage portion of the Infanta Isabella. 

This was finally arranged in the spring of 1498; and on May 30 of that 
year, Columbus sailed with his squadron of six vessels on his third voyage of 
discovery, lie proposed now to take a different route from that which he 
had before pursued, sailing much farther south; for he believed that under 



THE LAST VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS. l.')',l 

the equator he should find much rarer and richer productions than anywhere 
else; and this belief was supported by the opinion of Jayne Ferrer, an em- 
inent and learned lapidary, who had traveled much, especially in Asia, and 
was well versed, as the learning of the time went, in geography and natural 
history. 

For two months after they sailed from Spain, they did not reach the west- 
ern land. Part of the time they were becalmed in the midst of such intense 
lieat that the tar melted from the ships, and the seams opened, causing much 
leakage. Their meat had spoiled; the wheat was parched as if by fire; and 
there was not more than a single cask of water in each vessel. Columbus had 
vowed that if he were permitted to find the land which he expected, he would 
name it in honor of the Trinity; what was his surprise, then, when the look- 
out, about noon on the last day of the year, declared that be. saw three 
mountains rising out of the water. The ships drew nearer, and it was seen 
that the mountains were united at the base. With pious exultation, Colum- 
bus bestowed upon it the name which it still bears — La Trinidad. 

The ships cast anchor and obtained a supply of water. While coasting 
along this island, Columbus observed, to the south, low-lying land, stretching 
more than twenty leagues. He named it La Isla Santa, supposing it, like the 
other land that he had discovered, to be an island. It was in fact that por- 
tion of South America which is intersected by the mouths of the Orinoco. 
Thus he felt assured that Cuba was a part of the main land, and named a 
portion of a continent as an island. 

Casting anchor on August 2, near the southern point of Trinidad, they saw 
approaching them a large canoe, containing about twenty-five young Indian 
warriors. Thinking to attract them by music and dancing, when gestures of 
friendship and offers of trinkets had failed to do so, Columbus ordered that 
some of the musicians whom he had brought should play, while one man 
performed a dance on the deck of his vessel. But the Indians mistook this 
demonstration for a war-dance, and let a shower of arrows fly at the dancer 
and his comrades. This was answered by a discharge of a couple of ci'oss- 
bows from the ship, and the entertainment being concluded, the spectators 
paddled rapidly away. 

The Avhites had some difficulty in communicating with the natives, for the 
latter generally fled as soon as they saw the strangers approaching; but at 
last, about a week after they first saw land, they succeeded in doing so. The 
Indians readily told them that gold was to be obtained on a highland to the 
west, but added that the people living there were cannibals, and the road was 
infested by venomous animals. The attention of the Spaniards, however, 
was arrested by the sight of the great numbers of pearls which the Indians 
wore as ornaments; and which, they learned, came from the coast of La Isla 
Santa. 



160 



THE LAST VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS. 



Columbus fouiul Ihat iu his own .ship, which was a vessel of one hundred tons' 
burden, and required three fathoms of water, he could not sail freely among 
the islands, as he still considered the land which he had just discovered. 
"Late at night," he writes, " being on board of my ship, 1 heard as it were 
a terribU; roaring, and as I tried to pierce the darkness I beiield tiie sea to the 
south heaped up into a great hill, the height of the ship, rolling slowly to- 
wards us. The ships were lifted up and whirled along so that 1 feared we 
should be engulfed in the commotion of the waters; but fortunately the 
mountainous surge passed on towards the entrance of tlie strait, and after a 




'I'liE I.AMUMi oi' Columbus at Trisujak 



contest with the counter-current gradually sudsided."' He sent a caravel to 
see where there was a channel between these islands by which he might reach 
the ocean beyond. The caravel ascended the Paria liiver for some distance, 
and leturning, reported the discovery of a circular basin, but informed him 
that all the land whit;h he had seen was connected. Still he does not seem to 
have realized that this was a continent; according to the best niaj)s of Asia 
obtainable, it ought to be an island ; and an island he was determined to con- 
sider it. 

But there was danger that the supplies for the colony which the vessels had 
on board would spoil in this tropical climate; and the sea stores of the ships. 



THE LAST VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS. 



161 



besides, were almost exhausted. lu addition to this, Columbus suffered much 
from the gout, and was afflicted with an affection of the eyes, which rendered 
him nearly blind. He accordingly decided to sail forHispaniola, and rest and 




The Tidal Wave. 



recruit his health there; and tosendhis brotherthe Adelantado — upon whom 
that title had now been formally conferred by the sovereigns — to complete 
the exploration of this new group of islands. Several large and valuable 
11 



162 THE LAST VOYAOKS OK rOLLMBlS. 

pearls liad been secured, to send to the tsovereigii.s as indisputable jiroof of 
the wcalt h that had now been discovered ; and many smaller ones were obtained 
in exchange for hawks' bells and similar valuable articles of European man- 
ufacture. 

Prevented by his infirmities from taking any jiart in tlie navigation of his 
vessels, Columbus had ample time to reflect upon the nature of the counti-y 
whence they had just sailed. He remembered that the channels, ,'is he had 
thought them, were fresh water, but slightly affected by the saltness of the 
sea; there was a current perceptible; and finally he came to the conclusions 
that these channels where in reality rivers. Streams of such size must drain 
a country of considerable extent, largerthan any island. The land surround- 
ing the Gulf of Paria must be a portion of an almost boundless continent, 
as yet unknown and uncivilized, and therefore clearly the property of its dis- 
coverer's patrons, the rulers of Spain. 

Columbus went farther in his meditations, and decided that he had made 
yet another discovery. It was now generally received that the earth was 
spherical in form; but the various experiences thi'ough which he had re- 
cently passed, led him to believe it was really more the shape of a pear, one 
part much more elevated than the i-est, and rising decidedly' nearer the skies. 
He supposed this part to be under the Equator, in the interior of the conti- 
nent which he had just discovei'ed; and he concluded that this was the true 
earthly paradise; that the northern part of South America, to translate his 
speculations into language more intelligible to the latter part of the nine- 
teenth century, was just outside the gates of heaven. 

Immediately after the departure of Christopher Columbus for Spain his 
brother Bartholomew had begun work to develop the mines whose existence 
had been revealed by Miguel Diaz. The first step was to build a fortress 
near by, to which he gave the name of San Christoval, but which was popu- 
larly called the Golden Tower. 

He was in the midst of difficulties caused by shortness of supplies of food, 
when the caravels which were ready to sail when Columbus arrived at Cadiz 
reached the island. They brought reinforcements of nuni ; but many of the 
stores had spoiled on the voyage. Letters from the Admiral, brought by 
these vessels, directed the Adelantado to build a town near the mouth of the 
Ozema, for the purpose of being near the new mines. 

The site was chosen, and the proposed city christened San Domingo, it 
being the germ of the present city, and having given name to the greater 
part of the island. The fortress was completed, and a garrison of twenty 
men placed in it; then the Adelantado set out to visit Behcchio, the cacique 
who had not yet acknowledged Spanish sovereignty. 

Behcchio received him at the head of a considerable army of naked 
warriors; but the Adelantado had adopted his brother's method, and traveled 



THE LAST VOYAGES OF C:OLUMBUS. 163 

in state, with a large escort, and a guard of honor of his cavahy. Bchechio 
saw that it would be worse than useless to provoke a battle; and explained 
the force of warriors by saying that he had been engaged in reducing some 
rebellious villages. For two days the Adelantado and his escort were enter- 
tained by the cacique; and then the real business of the visit was entered 
upon. Behechio was informed that he must pay tribute, as the other 
caciques did; it was in vain he urged that there was no gold in his dominions; 
the Adelantado demanded that the tribute should be paid in cotton, hemp, 
and cassava bread. The cacique thankfully accepted this provision; and 
thus the tribe was brought into subjection without striking a blow. 

But there were many difficulties to be overcome at Isaliella, and the 
Adelantado found that he must give considerable time to the settling of 
affairs there. These were of the usual nature, complaints that there was not 
enough food to be had, Avhen the complainants would not exert themselves 
in any way to obtain a crop, and had so outraged the natives that these kindly 
and generous creatures would no longer furnish them with the fruits and 
flesh which they desired. While the Adelantado was busy here and at San 
Domingo, the garrison at Fort Conception was threatened by an Indian 
league. 

By the exertions of two missionaries, the cacique Guarionex had been 
brought to profess the Christian faith. Scarcely had they succeeded in doing 
so, when an injury inflicted upon his favorite wife caused him to renounce 
indignantly the religion professed by one who was capable of committing 
such an outrage. The missionaries removed to the territories of another 
cacique ; first erecting a small chapel for the use of one of their converts, and 
furnishing it with an altar, a crucifix, and other images. 

Scarcely had they departed, when a number of Indians, it was said by the 
order of Guarionex, entered the chapel, defiled the altar, and breaking the 
images in pieces, buried them in a neighboring field. The act was reported 
to the Adelantado; he caused the arrest of the Indians, and ordered their 
trial for sacrilege. 

Offenses against the Church wei"e then punished by inhuman barbarities; 
all heresies and acts of sacrilege must be expiated at the stake. The Indians 
were duly tried and convicted, and burned alive. Guarionex was still further 
angered by this assumption of power witliin his dominions and the inhuman 
death of his subjects. He allowed himself to be drawn by the other caciques 
into a league against the Spaniards, their immediate object being to rise and- 
massacre the garrison at Fort Conception. 

Their purpose was by some means betrayed to the garrison, and a messenger 
was sent to implore aid from the Adelantado, who was then at San Domingo. 
He marched against the dusky enemy, attacked the various caciques at the 
same moment, by dividing his force; and captured Guarionex and his brother 



164 THE LAST VOYAGES OF COLUMHUS. 

chieftains. The two latter were put to death ; but the Adelantado, knowing 
what provocation Guariouex had received, and finding that it was only witii 
difficulty tliat the others had induced him to join the conspiracy, released 
him, and thus subdued him b}' unexpected clemency. 

Scarcely had this been attended to, when the Adelantado was summoned 
to receive the tribute which had been collected by Behechio. There were 
such vast stores of cotton and cassava bread that he was oliliged to send to 
Isabella for one of his newly built caravels to transport them; and this vessel 
was a source of great wonder to the Indian cacicpie and his people. His 
sister, particularly, the wife of Caouabo, who appears to have shared his 
authority since her return from her husband's dominions, was anxious to 
entertain the white men and make them ail the gifts that she could 
command. 

In the meantime, tiio men of the colony at Isabella were not living any 
more peaceably. Always dissatisfied, since they could not realize the golden 
dreams with which they started out, they found now a leader in Francisco 
Roldan, an alcalde, or justice of the city. This man had been raised by Co- 
lumbus from poverty and obscnirity ; he had at first been employed as a servant ; 
but had gradually been promoted to higher positions, until he reached at last 
this official eminence. He performed his duties in this position so well that, 
on his departure for Spain, Columbus made him alcalde mayor, or chief judge 
of the island. 

It might be thought that such a man would have been inalienably attached 
to his benefactor, and to those whom that benefactor loved; but tiiere are 
some base natures who think that, if those above them be pulled down, they 
themselves can rise higher. It was so with Roldan. He was deeply jealous 
of the authority of the two brothers of Columbus; and soon n)ade a party 
among the idle, daring, and dissolute of the community. 

He began by sympathizing with the hard treatment which they had experi- 
enced; and having won tiiem in this way, he suggested that their rulers were 
foreigners, intent only on enriching themselves. With no resi)ect for the 
pride of a Spaniard, the two Genoese adventurers, left here by their equally 
selfish brother, treated the gentlemen of the conmiunity as mere slaves, com- 
pelling them to labor on the public works or to swell their state as they 
marched about the island, enriching themselves at the expense of the caci- 
ques. 

By these means, he brought their feelings to such a height that they had, at 
one time, formed a conspiracy to assassinate the Adelantado; but the ojipor- 
tunity for which they waited did not occur, and the plan was consequently 
abandoned. 

While Don Bai-tholomew was absent collecting the tribute of Behecliio, the 
conspirators judged the time ripe for action. Koldan's plan was to e.xcite a 



THE LA8T VOYAOKS OF COHLMBUS. 



165 



tumult by undci-hand means, interpose in his official character, throw theblame 
upon the injustice and oppression of the two Columbuses, and seize upon the 
reins of power himself, in order to promote the peace and welfare of the is- 
land. 

A pretext was soon found. When the caravel returned with her cargo of 
cassava and cotton, and was unloaded, she was drawn up on the beach. Rol- 
dan pointed out this circumstance, and told his followers that it was to pre- 
vent its being used by them to send word of their distress to Spain. 




Ruins of the House ok Columbus at San DosnNao. 

The people now insisted that the caravel should be launched and sent to 
Spain, to ask for further supplies. Don Bartholomew pointed out to them 
that it was unlit for so long a voyage ; it was rigged only for coasting trips 
about the island, and equipped for short voyages only. But they persisted. 
Eoldan then advised them to rise against the tyranny of these would-be mas- 
ters, to launch and take possession of the caravel, and dispatch her to Spain 
for the supplies so sorely needed, and at the same time to make complaints 
of the tyrants. He pointed out that if this vessel were in their hands, 
with its possibility of being the bearer of their complaints, even should they 



im; 'IIIK LAST \nYAtiKS OK COLUMBUS. 

not clioosc! to si'tid it, they might lead a lifeof ease and pleasure in the island, 
employing the natives as slaves, and sharing equally all that was gained by 
barter. 

Don Diego, who was in command at Isabella at this time, his brother being 
absent, feared to come to any open rupture with the alcalde, and sent him, 
with forty men, to the Vega, on the pretext that there were certain Indians 
there who nccdctl to be taught respect for the Si)anish arms. He hoped by 
thus employing the energies of the seditious upon lawful business, tliey might 
be brought to submit cheerfully to the rule of his brother and himself. 

But Iloldan simply strengthened his own hands by making friends and i)ar- 
tisans among the caciques who were dissatisfied with Spanish rule, and secured 
the devotion of his soldiers by indulging them in every possil)le way. 

On his return, Don Bartholomew having returned also, he openly demanded 
that the caravel should be launched; but received the same reply that had 
been given to the demands of his followers. He was afraid to attempt any 
open rebellion at Isabella, but departed into tlie wilderness, hoping to over- 
come the garrisons one by one and attach them to his standard, when he 
would openly revolt against the rule of the Adelantado. 

His movements threatened a siege of Fort Conception : and the commander, 
alarmed, sent for reinforcements. Don Bartholomew marched at the head 
of the relief, and held a parley with Roldan. The alcalde now boldly avowed 
that he was in the service of his sovereigns, defending their innocent subjects 
from injustice and oppression. The Adelantado demanded that he should 
submit himself to superior authority, or else surrender the ofHce with which 
it had invested him. He refused to do either; and withdrew, with his forces, 
to the province of Xaragua, the realm of Behechio. 

He suddenly marched to Isabella, intending to take possession of the cara- 
vel, and sail in it to the selected part of the island. Don Diego withdrew his 
forces into the fortress when he found that the cnemj' was too strong; but 
could do no more. Roldan found that he had not sufficient force to launch 
the caravel, or to assail the fortress; and dreading lest the Adelantado should 
return, and he be crushed between the soldiers of the two brothers, he pro- 
ceeded to make preparations for the expedition to Xaragua. Pretending to 
act in his official capacity, for the relief of the oppressed subjects of the 
King and Queen, he broke open the royal storehouse and helped himself to 
the supplies of arms, ammunition and clothing tlierc; and drove off such 
of the cattle as he judged necessary for his jnupose; causing others to be 
killed for present use. 

The Adelantado M'as unable to take any decisive .step, for he knew that many 
of his men were disaffecteil; and he feared lest they should go over to the 
enemy. Another danger lay in the position of the Indians. They had been 
rendered hostile by the cruel treatment experienced from many of the Span- 



THE LAST VOYAGES OF COLtMBUS. 167 

iiud.s, iind the tribute exacted by the Admiral did uot make them any less so; 
always watchful, they now saw that their enemies were divided among them- 
selves; and only awaited the most favorable time to strike a deadlj- blow at 
the colony and its dependencies. 

Such was the situation when news M'as received that two vessels were ap- 
proaching the island. These were under the command of Pedro Fernandez 
Coronal, and brought a reinforcement of soldiers, and supplies of all kinds. 
It also brought the news that Don Bartholomew had been confirmed in his 
tide and authority as Adelantado; and that the Admiral was in high favor at 
court, and would soon arrive with a powerful squadron. 

Desirous of restoring the island to peace before the return of his brother, 
and feeling that his authority was not now likely to be disputed by any but the 
ringleaders among the rebels, Don Bartholomew proclaimed an amnesty for 
all past offenses, on condition of immediate return to allegiance. But Rol- 
dan knew too well of what he had been guilty; and desj^ite these promises, 
feared to venture within the power of the Adelantado. He accordingly re- 
fused to hold any communication with those who were sent to receive his al- 
legiance, and prevented his followers from speaking with them. He then 
immediately set out on his journey to Xaragua, not waiting to hear that the 
Adelantado had proclaimed him and his men traitors. 

The Indian rising, which had been instigated by the idea that the whites 
were quarreling among themselves, now took place. The night of the full 
moon was fixed upon as the time that they were to attack the various parties 
of soldiers; but fortunately for the Spaniards, one of the caciques proved to 
be careless in his observations, and led his men against Fort Conception a 
night before the jJi'oper time. His attack was repulsed, and other garrisons 
prepared to receive the foe in time. 

Guarionex, who had been a principal mover in this insurrection, now be- 
took himself to the mountains, and made occasional sallies upon the villages 
of those who remained at peace with the Spaniards. The Adelantado re- 
solved to put a stop to this, and resolutely marched against the cacique and 
those who had sheltered him. Both were captured; and were still in prison 
at San Domingo when the Admiral arrived in the island, after an absence of 
nearly two years and a half. 

One of the first acts of Columbus was to issue a proclamation approving of 
the course pursued by his brother, and strongly condemning Roldan and his 
associates. But the rebel had been favored by an unexpected streak of good 
luck. Three of the caravels of the Admiral's scjuadrons had been carried by 
the current outside of the path pursued by their companions, and had reached 
the coast of Xaragua before they knew where they were. Roldan told their 
conmianders nothing of his rebellion against the Adelantado; and being a 
man in an important ofiicial position, they did not hesitate to grant all his re- 



168 



TIIK LAST VOVA(ii:S 01' COLUMHLS. 



quests for supplies. lie thus procured many niilitiiry stores; and his men 
cuuningly circulated among those on l)oard the vessels the story of the (»|)- 
jircssions of the Adelantado, and of the various hardships endured by the 
colonists at Isabella and San Domingo, while they did not fail to enlarge upon 
the ease and phmty and pleasure of the life which they led in Xaragua. Many 
of those on board were convicts, who had been permitted to commute their 
sentence into exile to the New World; and they listened eagerly to the men 
who defied the law. Much mischief had been done in the three days before 
the captains of the ships discovered the real character of Koldan. 

They then endeavored to dissuade him from the position that he had taken, 
and to induce him to return to the settlement and submit to the Admiral's 
authority; but their arguments were in vain. In the meantime, contrary 
winds rendered it impossible for them to proceed; and the captains, finding 
that there was danger of their crews becoming corrupted, resolved to send 
the artificers who wei'O im[)ortant, to the service of the colony overland, 
under the leadership of Juan Antonio Colombo, a relative of the Admiral's, 
and much devoted to him. 

Forty of them were selected, and they set oul ; hut scarcely had thej' 
landed, before thirty-two of them deserted to the enemy. Ai)p<'als, ri'mon- 
strances, threats, promises, were all in vain ; and Colombo ret urned to the 
ships with his eight faithful followers. 

The shi[)s stood out to sea, and finally made tiieirway to their ilestination. 
Columbus was greatly troubled when he heard the report regarding the rebels 
in Xaragua; he resolved that steps must be taken at once to prevent their 
gaining any further headway; and with a view of getting away from the 
island all those who were discontented, and who might therefore be expected 
to join Koldan, he announced that five ships would sail for Spain at a given 
time, and that anyone desirous of returning would be given free passage. 

The ships sailed October 18, bearing letters from C/oluml)us and from Rol- 
dan, giving both sides of the story in detail. Before they sailed, however, 
the commandant at Fort Conception had, at the desire of the Admiral, held 
a conference with Roldan, and again proffered him ])ardon. It was con- 
temptuously refused, and demands of a highly insolent nature made. Again, 
after the departure of the ships, Columbus wrote to Roldan, offering him 
l)ardon if he would suiimit even then; and after nuich treating between the 
outraged authorities and the rebels, terms of capitulation wei-e finally agreed 
upon; they were to be furnished with two ships, fully ecpiipjx'd for the voy- 
age to Spain, within fifty days from the time that this agreement was reached; 
and Columbus made liberal concessions regarding their pay and privileges. 

Ol)ligod to give a certificate of good conduct to Roldan and his followers, 
Columbus felt that he had deceived his patrons; and wrote by a confidential 
person who was to sail in one of the vessels a letter to the sovereigns stating 



THE LAST VOYAUKS Ol' COLUMBUS. 1G9 

the whole circumstance, and saying that he had been obliged to do this to 
save the island from utter confusion and ruin. Every day that Roldan re- 
mained in the island, whether in open rebellion or pretended submission, 
weakened the authority of Columbus among those under his command. 

Insolent as the demands of Roldan had been, no sooner had they been 
granted than he resolved to make others. Not all of his men were to depart; 
but those who chose to remain were to receive certain lands for their main- 
tenance. Further, it must be proclaimed that everything which had been 
charged against him and his party had been grounded upon false testimony, 
and the machinations of persons disaffected to the royal service. It was 
further provided that Roldan himself should be reinstated in his office. 

Hard as these conditions were, and they were accompanied with the stipu- 
lation that if he failed to keep them, the rebels might compel him to do so, 
Columbus accepted them; only inserting a clause in the treaty that the com- 
mands of tiie sovereigns, of himself, and of the officers appointed by him, 
should be obeyed. 

In the meantime, the reputation of Columbus was being constantly assailed 
by his enemies in Spain. He says of himself that he was " absent, envied, 
and a stranger." His son Ferdinand gives a vivid picture of the lengths to 
which the returned colonists went in accusing him to the authorities: — 

" "When I was at Granada, at the time the most serene Prince Don Miguel 
died, more than fifty of them, as men without shame, bought a great quantity 
of grapes, and sat themselves down in the court of the Alhambra, uttering 
loud cries, saying, that their Highnesses and the Admiral made them live in 
this poor fashion on account of the bad pay they received, with many other 
dishonest and unseemly things, which they kept repeating. Such was their 
effrontery that when the Catholic King came forth they all surrounded him, 
and got him into the midst of them, saying, 'Pay! Pay!' And if by chance 
I and my brother, who were pages to the most serene Queen, happened to 
pass where they were, they shouted to the very heavens, saying: 'Look at 
the sons of the Admiral of Mosquitoland, of that man who has discovered 
the lands of the deceit and disappointment, a place of sepulcher and 
wretchedness to Spanish hidalgoes!' Adding many other insulting expres- 
sions, on which account we excused ourselves from passing by them." 

"When the King was thus compelled to listen to the complaints of these 
persons, is it not fair to suppose that privately his ears were filled with more 
decorous allegations against the Admiral? Such was the constant clamor 
against him, that Ferdinand and Isabella seriously considered the question of 
suspending him from the exercise of his high office; he had himself requested 
that some one might be sent out to administer justice in the colony courts; 
and they simply decided to send such a person, but to enlarge his authority 
by giving him civil as well as judicial functions. 



170 TIIIC I, .VST A(.)VA(iKS Ol" COIAMIUS. 

But tlu'V certainly acted with dcliheration. March 21, 14!)9, they directed 
Francis dc Bobadilla to "asc(u-tain wliat persons have raised tlieniselves 
ajjainst justice in the ishmd of Ilispaniola, and to proceed against them 
according to law." Two niontlis hiter, they conferred upon this officer the 
government of the island, and signed an order that all arms and fortresses in 
the Indies should be given up to him. But still Bol)adilla was in Spain, and 
no news of this action had reached Columbus. Not until the first part of 
July was the supplanter permittcHl to sail ; he ai "ivcd at Ilispaniola August 23. 

The Admiral was at Fort Conception when he arrived; but he at once took 
possession of his house at Isabella, and sent him the letter of the sovereigns. 
It read thus: — 

"Don" ("iikistoi'her Columbis, Oiir Ailiiiiral of the Ocean : — 

" We have commanded the Commendador Francis de Bobadilla, the bearer of 
this, that he speak to you on our part some things which he will tell you; we pray you give 
him faltli and credence, and act accordingly. 

" I the Ki.NC. I the Qukkx. 

" By their command, 

"MiGUKL PeKKZ 1)K AI..MAZAN." 

But Bol)adilla did not wait for Columbus to appear before him. There 
had been a conspiracy to murder Columbus and Roldan, who had been active 
in the pursuit of some of his late companions and followers in relxdlion; and 
Columbus, wdio saw that lenity was mistaken for weakness, resolved to take 
stern measures. Some of tiie offenders were executed; othci's were thrown, 
chained, into prison. Bobadilla at once demanded the release of these; and 
when Don Diego and his officers rei)re.sented that these men were imprisoned 
by order of the Admiral, and could only be released by his order, the uew 
envoy took matters into his own hands, and forced open tiie doors of their 
prison. He then seized all the property of Columbus, even his most private 
papers, and spoke publicly of him in the mo.st di.srespectful terms, saying 
that he was empowered to send him home in chains, and that neither he nor 
any of his family would ever be permitted to rule in Ilispaniola again. 

Columl)us could not believe the reports that he heard; he would not be- 
lieve that this man was really accredited by the sovereigns to whom he, Co- 
lumbus had rendered such great services. It must surely be some adventurer, 
who had possessed himself of the fortress, and was usuri)ingthe government 
of the city. 

When he learned the contents of the letter which Bobadilla bore, he did not 
know what to do; but of one thing he was sure, and that was, that the sov- 
ereigns had never intru.sted him with such powers as he claimed; they had 
sent him out, in accordance with the Admiral's request, to perform the duties 
of a judge, and had armed liim with provisional powers to make inquiries 
into the disturbance, of which Columbus himself had complained. Hethere- 



THE LAST VOVACKS OF COLrMBUS. 



171 



fore wrote to Bobadilla, welcomiug him to the ishiiid, ami cautioning him 
against hastily granting liceuses to collect gold. Bobadilla did not answer; 
and Columbus, hearing on all sides of the license which the newcomer prac- 
liced, published his belief that his own powers were granted to him in per- 
petuity, and that Bo)>adilla could not supersede him in the government. 
Then Bobadilla sent him the letter of credence, which we have copied above; 
and Columbus forced himself to yield to the usui-pcr, and departed, almost 
.'ikiiic, for Sail Dciniingo. 




KivETixG THE Fetters upon Coi.rMms. 

What authority had Bobadilla to act against the Admiral ? It was contained 
in a letter of instructions from the sovereigns, which authorized him to 
" seize the persons and sequestrate the property of those who appeared to be 
culpable, and then to proceed against them and against the absent, with the 
highest civil and criminal penalties." This was clearly directed against Eol- 
dan and his followers, whom the King and Queen supposed to be still in re- 
bellion; but as no names were mentioned, Bobadilla took advantage of its 
being so indefinite to make this language apply to the highest official of the 
New World. 

Columbus arrived at San Domingo; and Bobadilla at once gave orders to 
arrest him, put him in irons, and confine him in the fortress. For a time, it 



If- THE LAST VOYAGES OF COLUJMBUS. 

sccnicd tiiat no one would obey this order, so shocked were even his enemies 
at the idea of offering such indignities to so old a man, who had rendered 
such services to their sovereigns, and who had been honored l)ythem inevery 
possible way. Finally, one of his own servants undertook the task of fetter- 
ing the great Admiral; " a graceless and shameless cook," according to Las 
Casas, who was nearly a contemporary of Columbus, " who, with unwashed 
front, riveted the fetters with as much readiness and alacrity as though he 
were serving him with choice and savory viands. 1 knew the fellow, and I 
think his name was Espiuosa." 

What was the charge against him? " I make oath that I do not know for 
what I am imprisoned," Columbus wrote to a Spanish lady of rank who had 
been the nurse of Prince Juan. In another letter, he says that he was seized 
and thrown into prison, without being summoned or convicted by justice. It 
is probable that Bobadilla had no formal charge to make. There were many 
individual complaints, but they would scarcely bear investigation as charges 
against the Admiral; for the evils from which the colonists suffered so much 
were either unavoidable, or were brought about by their own faults. The 
great mistake which Columbus had made was in sending, and in permitting 
othei's to send, Indians to Spain to be sold as slaves. This had first dis- 
tressed, and then angered Isabella; and in whatever way the slavery might 
be excused, by representations that these Indians were prisoners of war, or 
had committed grave offenses against the laws, she could not forget that 
these were her subjects, and that she owed them the same privileges that she 
gave to those of Castilian birth. Isabella was offended at the persistence of 
Columbus in treating the Indians as deserving slavery; Ferdinand had lost 
confidence in his promises of riches from these new lands; and thus Boba- 
dilla was given the power which he used for the humiliation of the Admiral. 

Bobadilla now had Columbus and his brother Diego in his ])owcr; but the 
Adelantado was in Xaragua, in pursuit of some rebels, and had a considera- 
ble armed force at his back. The new governor had evidently heard of his 
determined spirit, and feared the result that would ensue from sending to 
arrest him. Columbus was accordingly enjoined to write to his brother, re- 
questing him to repair peaceably to San Domingo, lie readily complied, and 
exhorted his fiery brother to submit to the authority of the person appointed 
by the sovereigns, and to endure all wrongs and indignities patiently, under 
the full hope that when they arrived in Castile, all would be remedied. 

Thusit was that Don Bartholomew Columbus came quietly to San Domingo 
and rendered himself up; instead of marching at the head of his army to 
assault the place, rescue his brothers, and put the new governor in their 
place, as he doubtless would have much preferred to do. Like his brothers, 
he was put in irons; and they were removed from the fortress to one of the 
caravels, where they were confined separately, not being permitted to hokl 



THE LAST VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS. 173 

» 

any conversation with each other, or to be visited by any one from the city. 

We need not describe the condition of affairs in the town, where every one 
who had a comphiint to make against the late government was regarded as a 
patriot and a hero who had suffered at the hands of a tyrant. The vessels 
made ready to sail, Alonzo de Villejo being appointed to take charge of the 
prisoners. He was, says Las Casas, ."An hidalgo of honorable character, 
and my particular friend." When he arrived with a guard to conduct the 
Admiral from the fortress to the ship, he found him in chains, silent and de- 
pressed. When he saw the oiBcer enter with the guai'd, he thought that it was 
to conduct him to the scaffold; for though he had not had any trial, and did 
not know tlie charges against him, the treatment which he had received had 
been such that he could not tell where it would end. 

" Villejo," said he, mournfully, " whither are you taking me? " 

"To the ship, your Excellency, to embark," replied the officer with true 
manly respect for the misfortune of another. 

" To embark? " echoed Columbus, catching at the woi-d ; " Villejo, do you 
speak the truth? " 

" By the life of your Excellency," was the reply, " it is true!" 

Such was the conversation between them, as narrated by the historian whose 
description of Villejo has been quoted ; and doubtless Las Casas heard from 
the lips of his " particular friend " himself the words which passed between 
that friend and the great Admiral. 

The caravel sailed early in October, 1500. Villejo and Andreas Martin, the 
master of that in which Columbus was ordered to be confined, although they 
were both supposed to be attached to the enemies of Columbus, were deeply 
grieved at the treatment which had been accorded him, and did all in their 
power to show, by their profound I'espect and assiduous attention, that they 
had not chosen their oiBce as his jailers. They desired to take off his irons: 

"No," he replied proudly, "their majesties commanded me by letter to 
submit to whatever Bobadilla should order in their name; by their authority 
he has put upon me these chains ; I will wear them until they shall oi'der them 
to be taken off, and I will preserve them afterward as relics and memorials of 
the reward of my services." 

And he kept his word; for, says his son Fernando: "I saw them always 
hanging in his cabinet, and he requested that when he died they might be 
buried with him." 

The arrival of Columbus in Cadiz produced very nearly as great a sensation, 
as his return from his first voyage, though of a different kind ; then, no honor 
could be too great for him; now, he was fairly hooted by the mob, an object 
of contempt to all. But the friendship of Martin had one good effect upon 
the fortunes of the Admiral ; he permitted him to send off that letter to tho 
nurse of Prince Juan by express, as soon as the vessel landed; while the re- 



rilK I.A.ST VOV.VtiE.s OF COI.II.MIU'S. 



175 



|)ui-t of Bobadilla was .sent liy nioro formal and dilatory nie.=isenger. This let- 
ter was at once shown to the Queen ; autl was the tirst intimation she received 
that Columbus had not been treated with the respect due to him. The tide 
of royal and of public opinion changed at once ; the enemies of Columbus had 
defeated their own ends by the violence with which their agent had acted. 
Orders were at once sent to Cadiz that the prisoners should be released, and 
treated with all distinction. They then wrote a letter to Columbus himself , 
expressing their grief that he should have been offered such indignities, and 
inviting him to come to court at once. Two thousand ducats wei'e sent to 
pay the expenses of his journey. 



If; 




W^ 











Hooted by tue Mob. 
He reached the court, and was received with marked kindness by the sov- 
ereigns. He saw tears in the eyes of the gentle Queen; and unable to sup- 
press the feelings which this sign of sympathy called forth, he threw himself 
on his knees, and sobbed aloud. 



17() TIIK LAST V()YA(iKS OF" COLUMBUS. 

The King and Queen raised him from the ground, and endeavored to eh 
courage him b^' expressing their deep sense of his services. When he had 
regained his self-control he entered upon a vindication of his loyally; but 
none was needed; the very excess of his enemies' anger showed that they 
were in the wrong; and the rulers disavowed the proceedings of Bobadilla, 
asserting that the expressions in their letter had never been meant to apply 
to Columbus and his l)rothers; and declared that he should be recalled at 
i;nce. 

The report of Bobadilla had not yet been received. In fact, although it 
7iiust have been duly delivered, there is no record that it was ever considered. 
Columbus was assured that his grievances should be retlrcssed, his property 
restored, and that he should be reinstated in all his privileges and dignities. 

And these privileges and dignities were vei-y dear to his heart; ho consid- 
ered them the real reward of his services. In his will, ho directs that his 
heir shall call himself, and sign himself, simply "The Admiral," no matter 
what other titles maybe bestowed upon him; for this was of all others the 
greatest, being the recognition of the services of Columbus in discovering the 
western route to India. lie hoped and expected that, since the sovereigns 
were fully convinced that he had suffered unjustly, they would at once rein- 
state him as viceroy, and send him back to govern the island. But this 
hope was doomed to be long deferred, until, indeed, he grew sick at heart. 

There is no doubt that Ferdinand repented having appointed Columbus to 
such high offices, as soon as it was discovered how great was the extent of the 
New World. Every succeeding proof of the greatness of these discoveries 
then only tended to make him more jealous of that foreign-born subject who 
had been made Admiral and Viceroy of them all. He never intended to keep 
tiie fair promises which he joined with the more sincere Isabella in making at 
this time, but deliberately planned to put off the fulfillment of them from 
time to time, by such excuses as might present themselves, until Columbus 
should succumb to the weight of the years which had long been pressing 
heavily upon him. 

Altiiough Bobadilla was recalled, Ferdinand represented to Columbus that, 
such was the state of the island, it would be betterto have some disinterested 
person appointed to take his place for a certain time, although no one should 
ever acquire the rights which had been granted to Columbus. It is probable 
that this promise deceived Isabella as well as Columbus; and that she died, 
tiiinkingthe great Admiral was again to govern the New World wliicli he had 
given to Castile. 

Bohadilla's successor was Don Nicholas de Ovando; but his departure was 
delay<'d for a considerable time after his ai>pointment. In the mean time, 
l>obadilla"s system of government was showing its results. He had changed 
the rule established by Columbus, that one-third of the gold obtained should 



THE LAST VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS. 177 

belong to the Crown ; and exacted only one-eleventh ; yet the amount paid to 
the royal ofBcials was more than under the old system. This enormous in- 
crease in the product was secured by exacting the labor of the natives. At 
first, the caciques had been compelled to set aside a certain portion of the 
ground for grain to be raised by the Spaniards; then the chiefs were obliged 
to furnish the labor required to cultivate it ; then the produce of the earth 
was demanded as tribute; and now, the unfortunate Indians were compelled 
to labor at whatever task their self-constituted masters might choose to as- 
sign them. 

The result may be imagined. The natives of these islands had never been 
obliged to work before the coming of the strangers; the soil and climate are 
such that food in abundance for the sparse population was produced almost 
spontaneously. Nor were they used to the hardships which beset so many of 
the Indians of North America. For these gentle, peace-loving people, there 
were no dangers of the chase to be encountered ; there were no days spent on 
the war-path, no creepingthrough the forest upon the unwary enemy, no lying 
in ambush through night and storm. Every simple want supplied by nature, 
they seemed relieved from that burden of labor laid upon our common father 
Adam; they werei free to dream their lives away in sweet content. 

How was this now changed! Bobadilla caused a census of the Indians of 
Hispaniola to be taken, and distributed them among the colonists, to serve 
their pleasure; labor in the fields and in the mines was the least part of what 
they endured; the inhumanity with which they were treated may be inferred 
from a single example: Las Casas, who visited the island at the close of 
Bobadilla'sterm of office, says that he has seen Indians who were compelled 
to bear the litters or hammocks which their arrogant and upstart masters 
preferred to the saddle, and thejr shoulders were raw and bleeding from the 
task. 

The abuses of this government reached the ears of the sovereigns; and the 
increased amount of gold, which could not but elicit the wonder and pleasure 
of Ferdinand, did not make Isabella insensible to the wrongs inflicted upon 
her distant subjects. In order to preserve the rights of the Indians, she al- 
lowed negro slaves to be taken to Hispaniola; and thus shifted the burden 
from the shoulders of one miserable set of creatures to those of another. 

Ovando was further ordered to consider the interests of Columbus. All 
;he property which Bobadilla had confiscated was to be restored; and his 
orothers were to be indemnified for whatever losses they had sustained by 
reason of their imprisonment. An agent was appointed to look after the 
affairs of the Admiral, and it was ordered that he should receive the ar- 
rears of his revenue, and that it should be paid punctually for the future. 

Such was the bright side of the orders. On the other hand, as regards the 
condition of tlie natives under the new government, they were permitted to 



178 



TlIK J, AST VOYAIiKS Ol' COl.l .MIJUS. 



1)0 enii)loyc'(l in the royal .service; il is (nie lliat accordiii-? to instnietioiis tliey 
were to bo engaged as hired laborers, and regularly paid; but they might be 
eoinpelled to do this work, and this left room for nearly as many abuses as 
under the old system. 




<>\ ANDO'S Fl.KET ShaTTERKD IN A Stohm. 

Again, in a government so far removed from the mother country, and 
where there is no degree of representative rule, the character of the admin- 
istration depends entirely upon the character of the man at the head of it. 
Ovando was vested with an authority which was supreme over the island; he 
was responsible only to the sovereigns of Spain, and in case there were any 
complaintsto make, it wouhl i-erpiire al>out four monthsto receive an answer. 

Thirty vessels formed the fleet which was to convey this potentate to his 
dominions; they set sail February 13, 1502. But it was not destined to 
reach port without difficulty; they were hardly out of sight of land when a 
terrible storm was encountered; and one of the ships went down with all on 
board. The others were compelled to throw overboard so many articles that 



I 



THE LAST VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS. 179 

the coast of Spain was literally strewed with them and with wreckage for 
many miles; and it was reported that all the vessels had foundered. The 
King and Queen shut themselves up for eight days, to grieve for the loss of 
their fleet. After the storm, however, the remaining vessels assembled at thi^ 
Canaries, and again turned their prows westward, arriving at their destina- 
tion the middle of April. 

Meanwhile, Columbus was considering a project which had long been in his 
mind. It luis already been recorded that he desired to find a now route to 
Cathay, not in order to enrich himself, but that a sum sufficient for the pur- 
chase of the Holy Land from the Mohammedans might be realized from the 
commerce with these countries. At some time after the discovery, whether 
on his first or second return from the New World to Spain cannot be told 
definitely, he had made a vow to furnish, within seven years from the time of 
his discovery, fifty thousand foot-soldiers and five thousand cavalry for a 
Crusade for the recovery of the Holy Sepulchre; and to furnish a similar 
army, if this should not have been successful, within five years thereafter. 
That this vow had not been fulfilled, was his great trouble; and there is still 
in existence a letter written by him to Pope Alexander VI., about the time 
that Ovando sailed, which explains why the vow had not been fulfilled. 

To Columbus, ardent and devout as he was, and filled with the old crusad- 
ing idea that the Holy Land must, at any cost of blood or treasure, be recov- 
ered from the infidel, it must have been a great grief that this vow had not 
been fulfilled. Since he had first set eyes on San Salvador, almost ten years, 
freighted with cares and labors and anxieties, had passed away; and beseems 
now to have felt, at last, that his desire to recover the Holy Sepulchre by his 
own means was utterly hopeless. 

But he remembered that in laying his plans before Ferdinand and Isabella, 
he had proposed this as one of the objects of the enterprise; and he now 
proceeded to arrange the arguments by which he hoped to induce them to 
undertake this holy war. The Scriptures, the writings of the Fathers, and 
all that class of literature which was held in high esteem by the Church, were 
all ransacked to show that there were three events destined to take place in 
rapid succession. Of these, the first was the discovery of the New World; 
the second was the conversion of the Gentiles; and the third was the recov- 
ery of the Holy Sepulchre. These arguments were embodied in a manuscript 
volume, and transmitted to the King and Queen, accompanied by a letter in 
which he eloquently urged this project which now seems so visionary upon 
the attention of the bigoted Ferdinand and the devout Isabella. 

But Columbus knew, by sad experience, how long the decision of the 
Spanish sovereigns was likely to be delayed when a new and important enter- 
prise was presented for their consideration ; possibly he felt that should he 
gain new laurels by the discovery of yet richer countries, his recommendations 



ISO TllK LAST AOYAGKS OF COLUMBUS. 

would carr}' more weiftht with them. Perhaps, too, the wandering iiature 
that was in the Genoese sailor" impelled him ever to he seeking new lands; 
and he was roused to emulation by the achievements of Vasco de Gania and 
Cabral, the former of whom had recently, for the first time in the history of 
the world, doul)le<l the Cape of Good Hope and sailed from Portugal to 
India. 

His anxiety regarding the Hoi}' Sepulchre was set at i"est sooner than he 
had hoped. Ferdinand was a bigot, and valued highly the title of Most 
Catholic King, which he had won liy his wars against the iSIoors of Spain: 
but while ho was quite read}' to wage to its bitter end a war which was in a 
measure forced upon him, and which, besides being a holy war, was necessary 
for the preservation of his kingdom, he was yet a hard bargainer, and not 
insensible to the advantages of a peaceful settlement of difficulties. Instead, 
therefore, of raising an army for the deliverance of the Holy Sepulchre, he 
proceeded in what, to us of the nineteenth century, seems a nmch more busi- 
ness-like and much more Christian way: he concluded a treaty with the 
Grand Soldan of Egypt, under whose rule Palestine then was, which adjusted 
all the old difficulties between the two powers, and nuide arrangements for 
preserving the Sepulchre and protecting the pilgrims who wished to visit it. 

The great discoverer, then, was entirclj' free to give all his attention to 
thoughts of new discoveries, which would not only go far beyond those of 
Gania and Cabral, but would eclipse his own former achievements. It was his 
M'ish to explore the coast of Cuba, which, as we have frequently shown, he 
believed to be a portion of the main land of Asia, and find the channel which 
lay between it and the islands, and which would enable him to reach those 
coasts, trade with wliich was so rapidly enriching Portugal. Many advisers 
of the Crown protested against his receiving the necessary grants of ships, 
men, money, and authority to do this; but Ferdinand, who did not trust the 
ability of Columbus as a governor, and who was besides jealous of the au- 
thority which he himself had joined in giving to the Admiral, knew him to be 
a remarkably skillful navigator; and was entirely willing that his time and 
attention should be so occupied with rendering new services to the Crown 
that he would have no time to insist upon the reward forthe earlier services; 
and Isabella felt that it would be ungrateful, after Ovando had been given so 
large a fleet merely to transport him in suitable state to his post of office, to 
refuse a few ships to Columbus, that he might continue his discoveries. 

Four caravels, ranging in size from fifty to seventy tons' burden, were given 
him; and one hundred and fifty men enlisted in his service. His brother, 
Don Bartholomew, and his second son, Fernando, a boy of thirteen, were to 
accompany him. His son Diego was to remain in Spain, and all liie affairs of 
the father were to be left to his management. He had asked permission 
to touch at Hispaniola for supplies as he sailed past it to the coast of 



THE LAST VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS. 181 

the main land; but this permission was refused, on the ground that tlic 
ishmd was still, probably, in great agitation, arising from the change of gov- 
ernors, and that the Admiral had many enemies in the island. The sovereigns, 
however, graciously allowed him to touch there briefly on his return voyage. 

The voyage across the Altantic occupied a little more than a month; the 
squadron sailing May 9, and arriving at one of the Caribbee Islands June 15. 
Sailing along by Dominica, the fleet passed along the south side of Porto 
Kico, and then steered for San Domingo. The Admiral was thus acting 
directly contrary to the expressed orders of the King and Queen; but one of 
his ships M'as such a poor sailer that it delayed the others, and he had deter- 
mined to ask in exchange for it one of Ovando's vessels, or else to buy one 
of the trading vessels which were now permitted to ply between the two 
coasts of the Atlantic. 

The fleet in which Ovando had reached the island was prepared for the re- 
turn voyage when, June 29, Columbus approached the mouth of the river, 
and dispatched the captain of one of his caravels to ask permission to enter 
the harbor, as a storm was approaching. The request was refused by 
Ovando. 

It seems incredible that Columbus should be refused permission to shelter 
his vessels in the chief harbor of that New World of which he was the dis- 
coverer; but the action of Ovando can be justified by many reasons. In the 
first place, the weather was not at all threatening; to the ordinary eye, there 
was no indication Avhatever that a storm was to be expected. To the Spanish 
Governor, then, who probably had received instructions not to permit Co- 
lumbus to enter the country under his rule, it probably seemed that the Gen- 
oese navigator was only seeking an excuse to disobey the commands of the 
sovereigns, and to interfere in the government of the island. Added to this 
there were many persons in San Domingo who were bitterly adverse to Co- 
lumbus; had he landed by permission of the Governor, and had these per- 
sons been able to wreak their vengeance upon him, the Governor would justly 
have been held responsible. 

The answer was returned to Columbus; but in the meantime, the indica- 
tions of an aj^proaching storm had become, to his practiced eye, even more 
certain; although the pilots of the vessels could not see them. He again 
sent his messenger to Ovando, begging him not to allow the fleet to depart. 
The pilots and seamen of these vessels, as of his own, did not believe that 
any storm was threatened; they were anxious to put to sea; and laughing at 
the prophecy of the old Admiral, declared that he was a false projihet. 

But Columbus had been a sailor for more than fifty years, and had acquired 
such weather-wisdom as few, even of those who have starved the ocean so 
long, have been able to learn. He sought shelter in a wild har})or, and finally 
cast anchor at a point near the shore, but sufficiently distant from San Do- 



182 TUK LAST VUV.MJKS or (Dl.lMIU S. 

iniiigu to keep his ))rosenre there from l)eing diseovored. The fleet of lliirly 
vessels, bound for Spain, sailed out of the harhor of San Domingo. One of 
them, on board uiiioh was Robadilla himself, bore the largest nugget of vir- 
gin gold that had jet been found in the New World, as well as that immense 
amount which had been collected, during the administration of Robadilla, as 
the revenue of the Crown. It was the hopes of the tyrant that this treasure 
would, in the eyes of the King, atone for much of his evil govoiiuntnt ; he 
does not seem to have taken the Queen into account. 

Within two days after it was uttered, the prophecy of Columbus regarding 
the storm was fulfilled. It swept over the ocean, and tiie thirty sail were 
exposed to its full fury. They had just reached the eastern end of Ilispaniola 
when the tempest burst upon them. That proud vessel which bore Bobadilla 
and his ill-gotten gains, with which he hoped to bribe the conscience of a 
king ; Roldan, the rebel against the authority of the great x\.dniiral ; and many 
others of his most inveterate enemies, who were going to Spain for the good 
of Ilispaniola, were swallowed up by the angry waves ; and the treasure wrung 
from the oppressed natives sunk with those who had thus procured it to the 
bed of the ocean. Other vessels were lost, besides this principal one; others 
were so injured by the storm that they were obliged to ])ut back to port; only 
one, the weakest and least sea-worthyof all when they had left San Domingo, 
was able to continue the voyage to Spain. The superstitious historian, in re- 
cording this fact, does notfail to call attention to the circumstance that the 
favored vessel had on board four thousaiul pieces of gold, the property of 
Columbus, which his agent, recently appointed, had recovered or collected, 
and was forwarding to Spain; and to emphasize the statement that the most 
inveterate enemies of Columbus were in the vessel which ])erished utterly, be- 
fore any others of the fleet were seriously injured. 

The vessel commanded by Columbus remained clost; in shore, and escaped 
injury. The others of his squadron were driven out to sea, and so seriously 
injured that the whole fleet was obliged to go to Port Ilermosos for repairs. 

Repairing the vessels, allowing a little time to his sailors for necessary rest 
and recreation, and the avoidance of another storm, prevented Columbus 
from sailing for the mainland until July 14. Threading his way among the 
islands to the south of Cuba, he landed on one of a group which he named 
Isla do Pinos, from the circumstances that it was covered with very lofty 
pine-trees; but which island has always retained its Indian name of Guanaja. 
While they were here, a canoe eight feet wide and as long as a galley, and 
rowed by twenty-live men, landed, having evidently come thither on a trading 
expedition. The appearance of the natives, the clothing which they wore, 
the articles which they had brought with them, all showed a much higher de- 
gree of civilization than that which prevailed on the other islands. They told 
him, by signs, that they had come from a rich and populous country to the 



Till': LAST V(JVAGK8 OF CI )Lf.M I'.t S. 183 

west, and tried to indiiee him to visit it. Had lie listened to tiieir persuasions, 
he would have reached Yucatan, and thence Mexico, with the boundless stores 
of wealth of which Cortez became possessed a generation later. These treas- 
ures would have fulfilled the wildest dreams of the Spaniards, and Coluin- 
l)us, theirdiscoverer, would again have been the favorite of the nation. But 
he considered that this country might be visited at any time, while, for the 
present, he was bent on exploring the southern coast of Asia, which would 
yield far greater treasures than any to which these Indians were likely to show 
him the way. 

For sixty days after they had been refused shelter at San Domingo, the 
four little vessels constantly encountered storms, which only the best of sea- 
nianshijj enabled them to weather. The Admiral's health had long been un- 
certain, and now he should have taken rest; but the almost ceaseless succession 
of storms left him no choice; his skill and experience were constantly re- 
quired; and he had a small cabin constructed on the high stern of his vessel, 
whence, even though confined to his bed, he could keep an outlook and 
direct the course of the ships. If genius be, as some one has defined it, the 
capacity for taking infinite pains, surely no one ever better merited to be 
called a genius than did Columbus. 

He now steered along the coast of Honduras, and encountered, on Septem- 
ber 12, a cape which he named Gracios a Dios, in pious thankfulness because 
the land there took a southerly turn, so that the east winds which had hither- 
to delayed him were now favorable. In October he entered several bays on 
the southern coast of Central America and the isthmus, but, naturally enough, 
could get no information from the natives of the channel which he was 
seeking. 

The natives were generally inclined to be friendly; but in one ease, being 
obliged to moor his vessels close by the shore, he was attacked. They fled, 
however, when the artillery was brought into use; like theCaribs, they could 
not contend with a people who were armed with the lightning. 

Nor was this the only dreadful thing about these strange white people who 
came in the great winged canoes. At a conference held between Columbus 
and the natives at some point along the coast mentioned, a notary attended, 
to take notes of the conversation. The savages seem to have had no idea of 
writing; they considered its practice a kind of magic, and were not satisfied 
until they had burned some kind of fragrant powder between themselves and 
the Spaniards, to destroy the baleful influence of the spell. 

December 5, they encountered a tropical cyclone, which proved so terrible 
that it afterward seemed a miracle that their frail vessels had lived through 
it. At last, after tossing about on the waters for eight days, they gained the 
mouth of a river which the Admiral named the Bethlehem, because he 
entered it on the Church festival of the Epiphany. In this neighborhood 



184 TMK LAST VOYA(!KS OF COLUMBUS. 

was a powerful cacique, whom they found to be the owner of rich gokl mines. 
He offered to suj)ply tho Spaniards with gu'des to conduct them to these 
mines, but privately instructed these guides to convoy them to tho mines 
owned by a neighboring cacicjue. Mere, liowever, in s|)ite of the trick which 
had been jjlayed them, they acquired, by barter and actual discovery, a large 
quantity of gold, more, said the Admiral, than he had seen in Hispaniola in 
four years. 

Columbus determined to found a settlement here, as a preliminary to 
working tiiesc ricii mines and sending the product to Spain. By the end of 
March, 1503, a village of huts had l)een built, sufficient to shelter eighty men; 
here the Ailelantado was to remain, with this number; while his brother, the 
Admiral, returned for supplies and tools. 

Rumors reached the Adelantado, however, that tho natives intended to 
attack the village; ho marched promptly upon them, and seized the tricky 
chief, whom ho held as a hostage. But the cacicpie, although bound hand 
and foot, managed to spring overboard and make his escape, swimming under 
water to the shore. Under his leadership, the angry natives attempted to 
l)urn down the village, l)y shooting Haniing arrows upon the roofs of the huts ; 
and a boat's crew of eleven Spaniards, who had gone some distance up the 
river, wore attacked by the natives in canoes. One out of the eleven escaped 
to tell the story. The boat, the only one that they had that was sea-worthy, 
was of course the prey of the victors. 

The weakest of the four vessels had been left with Don Bartholomew, as 
being scarcelj' fit for the homeward voyage; and the other throe, with the 
Admiral in command, wore in the offing, awaiting a favorable wind. But the 
dry season had made the river so shallow that it was impossible for the 
remaining caravel to ci'oss the bar at its mouth, and as they had no boat that 
could be trusted to encounter the surf, it seemed that they were doomed to 
perish. At last, Ledesma, a bold pilot of Seville, encouraged by tho example 
of some Indians who had escaped, when captured, by swimming to shore, 
made up his mind that ho could do what they had done. He swam from the 
caravels, reached the shore, three miles away, in safety, and comnmnicated 
with the Adelantado; and then conveyed to the Admiral the news of how 
things stood on shore. 

In a few days the wind changed, and the would-be settlers embarking on 
the three vessels, the caravels stood out to sea. That one which was inside 
the bar had to be abandoned; and at Porto Bello the Admiral was obliged to 
give up another caravel as no longer sea-worthy. Leaving tho coast of the 
main land May 31, he steered toward Cuba; but while on this part of the 
voyage, a collision between his two remaining ships damaged them very 
seriously. The small vessels, "as full of holes as a honey-comb," so worm- 
eaten were they and injured by the storms and accidents which they liad sus- 



THE LAST VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS. 



is: 



taiued, reached the southern coast of Cuba about the middle of June. Shap- 
ing his course thence for Jamaica, Columbus', finding that his ships would no 
longer float, ran them on shore, side by side, and built huts on deck for 
housing the crews. 




-4"^^^ 



COLUJIBUS' CaRAAT3LS Agrouxd. 

Diego Mcndez, the lieutenant of Columbus, and a Spaniard who had shown 
himself, during this voyage, the boldest of his ofiicers, undertook and per- 
formed thediiBcult task of establishing a i-egular market in which the natives 
traded their fruit, cassava-bread, fish, and game for such articles of European 
manufacture as the Spaniards possessed. But how could they communicate 
with their countrymen on Hispaniola! A journey to the eastern end of 



lS(i THK LAST VOYA(iKS OK COLi::\nUS. 

.Iiiiiiaifii would 1)0 fraught with danger, for it would lie through the midst of 
tribes whieh were not at peace with each other; so that the Spaniards would 
tind the friendship of one a cause for dreading another. Rut even were that 
point reached in safety, they knew that there were forty leagues of rough 
water between the two islands; and they had no vessel in which the European 
sailors would risk such a voyage. 

It was a case of necessity, however; and with the truest kind of courage, 
Mcndez, having carefully considered the case, and knowing very well the 
dangers, volunteered to undertake the voyage around Jamaica and across to 
llispaniola in a native canoe. But one other Spaniard of like courage was 
found to accompany him; and with six Indians, the two white meii set out. 

While they were detained by rough weather at the easternmost point of Ja- 
maica, they were attacked by a numl)er of savages, and, by sheer force of 
numbers, overpowered and carried off as captives. But Mondez had taken 
with him some beads and other trinkets to use in barter with the natives; and 
while the captors were quarreling over this rich spoil, the captives escaped, 
and, managing to reach their canoe, returned in safety to their comrades at 
Santa Gloria. 

Mendez was ready to try it again; but he stipulateil that a suthcient force 
to guard against such accidents must accompany him to the most eastern point 
of the island. His courage was not without result, foi-, because of the exam- 
ple which he had set, a dozen of his comrades volunteered to try the danger- 
ous voyage; and in two canoes, with an armed escort on shore commanded by 
the Adelantado, the intrepid lieutenant again set out. 

The two canoes reached the shore of llispaniola in safety; and Mendez. 
leaving his companions, proceeded alone to San Domingo, to ask for the help 
which was needed. The Governcn- had left for Xaragua; and Menilez made 
his way alone, through a hundred and fifty miles of wild forest country, to de- 
liver the message of the Admiral. 

Ovando received him with great kindness. He could not tind words to ex- 
press his trouble at hearing of the situation in which Columl)us was placed. 
Certainly ho would send tiie help which was asked, only at present it was im- 
possible, because there were no vessels of sufficient burden at San Domingo. 
And thus, for seven weary months, he put off, from day to day, and from 
week to week, the request of Mendez. At last, Mendez received permission 
to go to San Domingo and await the arrival of certain ships which were ex- 
pected, one of which he might jicrhaps purchase for the use of the Admiral. 
He at once set off, on foot, although the distance was more than two hundred 
miles — for he had followed Ovando from place to place — and the i)ath was 
neither safe nor easy. 

While Ovando was thus temporizing, ashamed to refuse help. :iii(l afraid to 
give it, the castaways at Santa Gloria did not even kiu)w if their envoys had 



THE LAST A OVA(iKS OF COLUMHIS. 187 

reached Hispaniolaor not. It might have been supposed thatthej would not 
bhime Columbus with what had occurred; that they knew too well that their 
misfortunes were the work of the elements. Nothing of the kind; the Ad- 
miral was responsible for all that they had suffered; it was the business of 
the Admiral to take them back to Spain. The murmuring grew louder and 
louder, until it reached the ear of Columbus himself. 

Francesco Porras was chosen as the leader of the mutineers ; and one day in 
January he went to the Adipiral, who was confined to his bed by the gout, 
and stated plainly the intentions of the people. The Admiral, said Porras,' 
was evidently afraid to return to Spain; but the people had determined that 
they would not remain to perish; they intended to depart at once. The fol- 
lowers of Porras had pressed close upon his heels, even into the sick-room of 
the commander; and as these words were spoken, they shouted, as with one 
voice: — 

" To Castile ! To Castile ! We follow ! " 

It was useless for the Admiral to tell them, as he tried to, that there was 
great danger in leaving the island in the canoes which were the only vessels 
which they had; and that they were blind indeed if they could not see that his 
interest was the same as theirs. They would not listen ; but seizing upon all the 
canoes, the mutineei's set out; only such as were sick remaining with Colum- 
bus and his brother. 

Porras and his followers made several attempts to cross toHispaniola, but 
were prevented by storms. Thus foiled, they proceeded to roam over the 
islands, committing every excess that imagination could devise, and in every 
way making themselves objects of hatred and terror to the natives. 

Unable to distinguish between just and honorable men, such as the Span- 
iards under the rule of Columbus had seemed, and the ruffian horde of Porras, 
when both classes were white and apparently of the same kindred, the In- 
dians showed contempt and hatred for the few remaining at Santa Gloria; 
food could no longer be obtained from them; famine stared the Admiral and 
his followers in the face. 

It was in this dilemma that he determined to pit his science against their 
superstition. He knew that an eclipse of the moon would take place on a 
certain night. Of course, the Indians, who lived in the open air, had fre- 
quently witnessed such phenomena; but eclipses appear at such irregular in- 
tervals that the unlearned natives could not know with what certainty these 
obscurations can be foreseen. He accordingly assembled the caciques and 
their pi'incipal subjects, and assuming that Mendez had reached his destina- 
tion, thus addressed them through an interpreter: — 

"The God who protects uie will punish you. You know what has hap- 
pened to those of my followers who have rebelled against me, and the dangers 
which they encountered in their attempt to cross to Hayti; while those who 



1X8 



THK LAST VOVAOKS OK COI.rMIU'S. 



wont at my command made the passage wil limit diflirulty. Soon, too, shall 
the divine vengeance fall on you; this very night shall the moon change her 
color and lose her light, in testimony of the evils which shall ho sent upon 
you from the skies." 




Columbus and thk Eci.ipsk. 

The natives listened, but little impressed by what was said. But as the 
shadow began to creep over the face of the moon, they became less scorn- 
ful; and as the dimness increased, they drew together in affright. Now one 
set up a cry; it was echoed again and again; and the most doleful howls filled 
the air. They crept to the very feet of Columbus, and begged him to inter- 
cede for them.; he shoidd want for nothing, only let the threatened danger 
be averted. As a proof of their sincerity, they hastily collected such food as 
they could readily lay their hands upon, and brought it to him. 

Columbus pretended to turn a deaf ear to their solicitations; but finally, at 
the time when he knew that the eclipse must soon begin to pass off, he re- 
lented, and promised to intercede for them. He retired to his cabin, where 
they supposed that he performed some kind of strange rite, which caused the 
shadow to pass from the face of the moon, in token that their repentance 
and promise of better things were acceptable to the white man's God. Hence- 



THK LAST ^■OYACi^•,S OF COLUMBUS. 189 

forward the castawaj's suffered no move hunger, but were most abuncUintly 
supplied with food. 

Since the mutiny of Porras and his companions, Columbus had gradually 
won back many of the rebels to his side; but there was constant dissatisfac- 
tion, and soon another mutiny was on the point of breaking out. Before it 
had quite come to a head, however, a ship was descried standing toward the 
liarbor; how eagerly it was watched by these poor shipwrecked creatures, who 
had almost lost hope of seeing home again, we can scarcely understand. 

The vessel was of small size, too small to have been sent to convey them to 
Ilispaniola or to Spain; but there might be messages of cheer borne by it. 
They watched a boat lowered over the side, and rowed toward the land. As 
it approached, they saw, seated in the post of honor, Diego de Escobar, a 
man whom Columbus had condemned to death for participation in the Rol- 
dan mutiny, but who had been pardoned by Bobadilla. Coming alongside the 
ships, Escobar put aboard a letter from Ovando and a cask of wine and a 
side of bacon, which two last articles he said that Ovando intended as a token 
of his esteem and goodwill for Columbus; and withdrew to a distance, so 
that communication must be kept up by shouting aloud. Columbus was 
assured that Ovando greatly regretted the fact that he had no vessels of suf- 
ficient size to afford the relief desired; but that one would be sent as soon 
as possible. The messenger requested that any letter to the Governor might 
be written as soon as possible, for he was in a hurry to be off. Columbus ac- 
cordingly prepared an answer to the letter which he had received, and Esco- 
bar immediately put to sea. 

The choice of a man well known as an enemy of Columbus to act as mes- 
senger in this instance shows that Ovando was not well disposed toward the 
Admiral; but Columbus made the best of it ; and assured his followers, who 
were much disappointed that the vessel should sail off so quickly, that Esco- 
bar had been sent to convey to Hispaniola a portion of his command; but 
that he, the Admiral, had refused to leave any of his followers behind him, 
on a wild and inhospitable coast like that of Jamaica. There is no evidence 
that they quite believed these assurances; but they could not contradict them, 
since only the Admiral knew the contents of the letters; and Escobar had 
not permitted any communication between his men and the castaways. 

Columbus sent half the bacon and wine as a peace-offei"ing to the mutineers, 
.with whom he was anxious to make terms; but his overtures were scornfully 
rejected; and Porras persuaded his followers that Escobar's caravel, whicJi 
they had all seen, was nothing but an apparition conjured up by the magic 
arts of Columbus; for a man who possessed such strange instruments, and 
was so learned about the stars, and could foretell storms when there were no 
signs that any one else could see, and could find his way about the waters like 
this man, must of course be a magician or a sorcerer. 



IflO THK LAST VOVAUKS Ol" COLL'.MBl .s. 

Thoio was good reason wliy Porras should havctlius persuaded liis follow- 
ers; for he was even tlien planning a descent uponlhe siiips, to seize the few 
remaining stores and capture tiie Admiral. The Adelantado received infor- 
mation of this; and placing himself at the head of fifty men, all tiiat the little 
force could furnish, marched against the nmtineers, attacked them, and ended 
bj' defeating them and carrying off their leatlcr as a prisoner. 

The mutineers at once submitted unconditionally to the Admiral, who par- 
doned the ni for their revolt against his authority; reserving the ringleader 
for future i)unishment. Ilis offense was, according to the laws of every na- 
tion, then as now, a capital one; and Columbus, as Viceroy and Admiral, was 
certainly empowered to try such offenders and pronounce and execute sen- 
tence when they had been found guilty; but he judged it best to defer this 
action until he had other spectators than a liandf ul of men who had either 
been lately l)rought back under his authority, or who had been on the point 
of rebelling against it, though they had not actually done so. 

June 24, 1503, the two weather-beaten vessels had found shelter at Santa 
Gloria; June 28, 1504, two caravels arrived to convey them to Ilispaniola. 
One of these had been sent by the tardy Ovando; the other by the faithful 
Mendcz. 

The voyage was a long and stormj' one; and the vessels did not reach San 
Domingo until the 13th of August. Much to the surprise of Columbus, 
Ovando received him in state, proceeding to the harbor, attended by a nu- 
merous suite, for that purpose. But this was only an empty show of respect; 
he soon announced that ha intended to institute a general inquiry as to the 
affairs which had taken place in Jamaica, in order to decide whether Porras 
and his associates had been justified in their rebellion against the Admiral's 
authority; and he insisted upon releasing Porras. 

'■ My authority as Viceroy nmst have sunk low indeed," remarked Colum- 
bus, sadly, " if it does not enable me to punish those of my officers who 
mutiny against me." 

But Ovando possessed tlie actual power, and Porras was released. Colum- 
bus determined to return to Spain ; and set sail, in the caravel which Meudez 
had sent to Jamaica for him, a month after his arrival at San Domingo. It 
seemed that storms pursued him wherever he went; for twice his little vessel 
nearly foundered ; twice, in successive tempests, her masts were sprung. Dis- 
ease laid her hand yet more heavily upon him than ever before; and it was a 
man who possessed neither means, nor health, nor favor with the sovereigns, 
nor hope of any better things to come, who landed from the frail and battered 
vessel at Seville, Nov. 7, 1504. 

Through all his troubles, since he had first found an advocate in the per- 
son of Juan Perez de Marchena, he had had one powerful friend; at times, 
her ear had been poisoned by the reports of his enemies; but always, when 



THE LAST VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS. 191 

she heard the truth, or even when, without hearing any other side of tlie story, 
she reflected upon the service which Columbus had rendered, and thought 
what manner of man he was, Isabella of Castile had shown her true greatness 
by her appreciation of the great Admiral. But now, even this friend failed 
him. The death of her son, of her grandson and heir, of her favorite daugh- 
ter, and the insanity of her remaining daughter, combined to make the great 
Queen one of the most unhappy of women. A deep melancholy settled upon 
licr; and when Columbus arrived at Seville, it was well known that she had 
not long to live. 

He was too ill to go to court, even had he been certain that he would be 
well received; and he sent his son Diego to manage his affairs for him. But 
he heard no news from there; couriers are arriving everyday, he says, but 
aone for him, though he would desire to have news every hour. 

Nov. 26, the Queen died; and the noblest epitaph that has been written 
upon her is contained in a letter of her greatest servant, written to his son 
Diego, in haste and brevity, just as he received the news: — 

" The principal thing is to commend affectionately, and with great devo- 
tion, the soul of the Queen our sovereign to God. Her life was always 
catholic and holy, and prompt to all things in his Holy service; for this rea- 
son we may rest assured that she is received into His glory, and beyond the 
cares of this rough and M'eary world." 

During the remainder of the winter and spring, Columbus remained at 
Seville, too ill to bear a journey; but, active in mind, directing the efforts 
which were made to obtain a recognition of his services and a redress of his 
wrongs from Ferdinand. One of the persons employed by him in his missions 
to the court was Americus Vespucius, who is described by Columbus as a 
worthy but unfortunate man, who had not profited as much as he deserved by 
his undertakings, and Avho had always been disposed to render him — Colum- 
bus — service. It was expected that Vespucius could prove the value of the 
latest discoveries of Columbus, since he had recently touched at the same 
coasts. 

Not until May was Columbus able to make the short journey that was I'e- 
quired. His applications made by proxy had been listened to coldly; and no 
sign had been given that those in authority thought that the Viceroy of the 
New World had any right or interest in its concerns. Columbus himself 
cared little for the revenues that he should have derived from mining and 
commerce; but he was exceedingly anxious that his dignities should be re- 
stored. He cared not to be a rich man, or to leave his heirs a vast accumula- 
tion of money; but he was, by solemn agi-eement with the sovereigns. Ad- 
miral of the Ocean and Viceroy of India; these titles, according to that same 
agreement, were to descend to his children; and he desired that Ferdinand 
should recognize his own action of previous yeai's. 



THK LAST VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS. 1!I3 

This the King was in no hurry to do, however; the causes of delay have 
already been given. He did not refuse absolutely; for the breach of faith 
would have been too flagrant; but he delayed as long as he could, and ended 
by referring the matter to the Board of Discharges of the Royal Conscience. 

The title of this august body sounds like it might have originated in one of 
the novels of Dickens; but there was actually such a board in Spain at the 
beginning of the sixteenth century; it had been appointed since the death of 
the Queen, to superintend the fulfilling of her will. Two consultations were 
held regarding the affairs of Columbus; but the Board was placed in a deli- 
cate position; nominally appointed to carry out the will of Isabella, they 
knew very well what she would have wished; but the King was a living power, 
and they were just as sure of his wishes as of hers. Nothing was settled in 
regard to this difficult question. 

C'Olumbus endeavored to console himself with the idea that the King was 
but waiting to consult his daughter Juana, who was her mother's heir, and 
who was daily expected to come from Flanders with her husband; but Jaana's 
coming was rendered uncertain by her frequent attacks of insanity, which 
deranged all the plans made for her. In fact, however, Ferdinand had no 
intention of consulting any one; he knew that Columbus w^as fast sinking 
under the weight of years and infirmities, and he was determined to delay his 
decision until the great man should be placed beyond all reward. 

Still he was profuse in his compliments to Columbus, though showing him 
no signs of real favor. Finally, not having been able to exhaust the patience 
of Columbus entirely, he offered to compromise the case by giving him, in 
place of his New World dignities, titles and estates in Castile. The offer 
was rejected with indignation by the Admiral, who justly considered his 
proudest title to be that which linked his name with the history of his discov- 
eries. And at last he despaired. He wrote to his friend, Diego de Deza: — 

" It appears that his majesty does not think fit to fulfill that which he, with 
the Queen, who is now in glory, promised me bj' word and seal. For me to 
contend for the contrary would be to contend with the wind. I have done 
all that I could do. I leave the rest to God, whom I have ever found propi- 
tious to me in my necessities." 

Yet, even after writing thus, he felt one last gleam of hope; it might be 
thiit Queen Juana and her husband, when they came to take possession of the 
throne of Castile, would hear him. They had arrived in Spain; but Colum- 
bus was again utterly prostrated, and could not go to Laredo to present his 
suit. His faithful brother, the Adelantado, undertook the mission. He was 
received with respect, and listened to graciously; the claims of the Admiral 
received due attention from the young sovereigns of Castile, and there was 
every reason to believe that there would be a speedy and prosperous termina- 
tion of his suit. 



1!14 THE LAST VOYAGES OK COLtMBUS. 

But cvt'ii wliili! liopc was thus dawning anew, darkness was approachinfr, 
like a storm at morning. The great diseovercr had made many voyages; Hrst 
to every part of the known world, and then to niariv out a path to tlic New 
AVorld; he was now about to set out on that last journey, to — 

" That undiscovered country from whose bourne 
No traveler returns." 

As the spi-ingof t'jOl! progressed, it was seen tlial his malady was graciualiy 
assuming a worse form than ever. He set his house in f)r(ler, making a mili- 
tary testament May 4, and supplementing this by a formal will drawn uj) about 
two Aveeks later. Providing for the maintenaneeand perjM'tuity of his family 
and <lignities, he ordered his heirtobuild in Hispaniolaacliapel where masses 
might be said daily for the repose of the souls of himself, his parents, his 
wife, and all who died in the faith. He provided that his heir was to eall him- 
self always The Admiral, no matter what other titles might be given him; and 
directed that measures should betaken to insure liis remembrance in (icnoa, 
the city of his birth. Provision was also made for the payment of various 
debts and rewards for services. 

Having attended to every claim upon his loyalty, affection and justice, Co- 
lumbus turned his thoughts from earth forever, and received the last sacra- 
ments of that Church of M-hich he had been so devout a member. As death 
drew near, he murmured the words, sanctitied by so many associations: — 

In munus tuas, Domiiie, comiiimdo spirifion 7nrii»i — " Into Thy hands, O 
Lord, I commend my spirit;" — and passed quietly away. 

His body was at first deposited in the convent of San Francisco, but in 
1513 was removed to the Carthusian monastery of Las Cuevas at Seville. 
Twenty-three years later, his remains, with those of his son Diego, who had 
been buried beside him, were removed to Hispaniola, and re-interred in the 
principal chapel of the cathedral at San Domingo. But, a wanderer through- 
out life, ev(!U his dust was not permitted to rest in peace; and toward the 
close of the eighteenth century, all the Spanish possessions in Hispaniola 
having been ceded to Fraiu;e, Spain retained possession of the ashes of her 
greatest servant, and removed them to the cathedral at Havana. The re- 
moval was performed with all the pomp and ceremony befitting the funeral 
services of the Admiral and the Viceroy of the Indies. 

" AVhen we read of the remains of Columbus, thus conveyed from the port 
of San Domingo, after an interval of nearly three hundred years, as sacretl 
national relics, with civic and military pomp, and high religious ceremonial; 
the most dignified and illustrious men striving who most should pay them 
reverence, we cannot but reflect that it was from this very port he was carried 
off, loaded with ignominious chains, blasted apparently in fame and fortune, 
and followed by the revilings of the rabble. Such honors, it is true, are 
nothing to tlie dead, nor can thev atone to theheart. now <lust and ashes, for 



THE LAST VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS. 



195 



all the wrongs and sorrows it may havo suffered; but they speak volumes of 
comfort to the illustrious, yet slandered and persecuted living, encouraging 
them bravely to bear with present injuries, by showing them how true merit 
outlives all calumny, and receives its glorious reward in the admiration of 
after ages."" — Washington TrTing. 




Statue op Columbus ox thk Portico of the Capitol at Washington. 




CHAPTER VI. 

AMERICUS VESPIT("IUS. 

Is "America" an Indian Word? — A City of Merchiints — Tlie Vespucci Family — Educa- 
tion — A Family Misfortune — Americusin Spain — Connection with Columbus — First Voyage ol 
Vespucius — South America Discovered — An American Venice — Attacked by Natives — An 
jnland Visit — Friendly Natives — Repairing the Vessels— A Mission of Vengeance — A Desper- 
ate Conflict — Return to Spain — Disputes about the Voyages of Vespucius — Marriage — Visit to 
Court — Ojeda's Expedition — Second Voyage of Vespucius — Off the Coast of South America — 
Gentle Cannibals — Landing of the Spaniards Dis]iutpd — A Village of Giants — A Filthy Habit 
— Return to Spain — A Flattering Offer — His Third Voyage — A Stormy Passage — Land at Last 
— An Earthly Paradise — An Invitation Accepted — Murdered by Cannibals — Revenge Forbid- 
den — Vespucius becomes Commander — Off the Coiist of Africa — Return to Portugal — The 
Fourth Voyage of Vespucius — Misfortunes — An Anxious Condition — South America Again — 
A Colony Planted — Return to Lisbon— To Spain — Preparations for New Expedition — Causes 
of Delay — New Tasks Proposed — Appointed Chief Pilot of Spain — Visits F"lorence — His Death — 
His Family — Foundations of His Fame — Accusations — Original Application of the Name 
America. 

HERE has been some eH'ort made, of recent years, to show that tlie 
name America is really derived from an Indian word; and that tiie 
man wliose name heads the present chapter derived it, as a surname, 
from the fact that lie journeyed to the ne\v-found continent, and wrote 
much about it. It is possible that in some of the languayes or dialects of 
the various tribes of Indians tliere is a word, resembling in sound the name 
of America, which was applied to their country, or even to land in general ; 
the western continent being the only large body of land with which they 
had any acquaintance ; but Vespucius certaiidy did not derive his name 
from any circumstance connected with his explorations or w'ritings; for a 
letter written by him in 1478 is signed "Amerigo Vespucci." 

Dismissing this theory at the outset, then, we proceed to study the life 
of the man from whom the New World received its name, lie belonged 
to a noble family which had originally lived a few miles from Florence, but 
under the government of that city. About the beginning of the thirteenth 
century, however, the rej)resentatives of the Vespucci established themselves 
in the city itself; and from that time they have remained identified with it. 

Florence was in many respects a peculiar city. Rich and powerful, its 
nobles were ])roud of their long descent, of their stainless honor, of their 
patronage of the arts and sciences, of their high station and the estimation 
in which they were held by others. In these things they resembled the 
nobles of other nations. But unlike others, they saw no shame in engaging 
in commerce; the city was a city of merchants, and her rulers were among 
the most successful of the great mercantile families. 

(196) 



AMKRICUS VKSl'lCII S. 



197 



Anastatio Vespucci, Secretary of the Senate of Florence, was the head of 
the family in 1451, and lived in a stately mansion, now occupied as a hospital 
for the poor, near the gate of the city now known as Porta del Prato. The 
Vespucci coat of arms apjiears over the doors of many houses in this quarter 




nil ^MT^ufr^. ^' 



^^^/i:'^ri 









AmIRICUS Vj-iPlCIUS. 



of the city, indicating that the family was not without a share of this world's 
goods; their wealth seems to have been acquired by an ancestor, sometime 
before the date specified; and Anastatio had but little besides his palatial 
dwelling and the salary attaching to his high office. Yet the name was a well- 
known one in Florence; for the wealthy ancestor had built more than one 



198 A.MERlCrS VESPLCIUS. 

hospital for the suffering poor, and a luafjiiificeiit chapel, where his own and 
his wife's rcinaius still repose. 

March 9, 1451, the third son of this ofBcial was born, and duly christened 
Amerigo when three days old. The name had descended to him from an an- 
cestor who had tilled a high office in 183(5; how much older it was, or how 
many had borne it during that century, we do not know. 

Almost from his cradle, the boy was destined to become a merchant. This 
did not mean that he was early to be confined to the drudgery of the count- 
ing-house; he nmst first receive such education as Florence could give to the 
son of an old and distinguished family. His father's brother, a monk of the 
Order of San Marco, was a distinguished scholar; and before the birth of 
Americus had become famous as a teacher of the noble youths of the city. 
To this school went the future navigator. 

^Mathematics, astronomy, cosmography, and the classics, seem to have com- 
prised his principal studies ; and he became especially interested in geography. 
It was his ambition to excel as a geographer; and with this aim, it is not 
to be wondered at that he sought the society of the great Toscanclli, that 
cosmographer to whom Columbus submitted the first draught of his wonder- 
ful scheme, and who so warmly ajjproved the idea of the Genoese adventurer. 

Americus seems to have remained a student under his uncle's direction for 
a number of years. His studies were interrupted in 1478, when the plague 
appeared at Florence and the Vespuccis sought safetj' in the country. He 
appears, however, to have resumed them on his return to the city, after the 
pestilence had run its course. 

Just when it was that he fulfilled the wishes of his father, and entered up- 
on mercantile pursuits, we have no record; but it is certain that he did so at 
some time between the year 1478 and 1490. But however busily engaged in 
commercial operations he may have been, he never lost his early interest in 
geography; all the best maps, charts and globes obtainable were bought by 
him, however high the price; and we have already noted that for one map he 
paid a sum equivalent to five hundiod and fiftj'-five dollars of United States 
money. 

7Vl)out the year 1480, his elder brother, Girolamo, had left home* to seek 
his fortune in foreign climes, and had established himself in business in a 
city of Asia Minor. As time went on, the entire family contributed of their 
means to increase his capital; for he was very j)rosi)erous, and needed only 
to inci'ease his operations to become immenselj' wealthy in a short time. 
Things went well with him until one day, while he was at church, thieves 
broke into his house and robbed him of all that he possessed. 

The circumstances that made it possible for the thieves to secure so much 
booty are not clearly described; we are interested onlj- in the result of the 
robbery. The famih' was so imjiovcrished that Americus determined to leave 



AMERICUS VESPUCIUS. 199 

Florence, to retrieve his brother's losses by making greater gains elsewhere; 
and he selected Spain as the scene of his future labors. 

]\Iany young nobles from other countries were then in Spain, under the 
banner of Ferdinand and Isabella; for the war which these sovereigns were 
waging against the Moorish kingdoms in the southern part of the peninsula 
was regarded as a holy war, a Christian crusade against the Infidel; and repu- 
tation and military experience were to be gained by engaging in it. Of course, 
this made many wants to be supplied by merchants and bankers; and Italian 
business men were quick to take advantage of the situation. Vespucius went 
as the agent of one of the Medici, the ruling family of Florence ; he was com- 
missioned to deal with Berardi, an Italian who had already established him- 
self in Spain ; and the esteem in which he was held in his native city is shown 
by the fact that a number of young men accompanied him, to see the world 
of business under his supervision. 

At the beginning of 1492 he was associated in business with one Donato 
Nicolliui; but he was also closely connected with Berardi, who, after the 
return of Columbus from his first voyage, was commissioned to furnish and 
equip four armaments, to be sent out to the New World at different times. 

Some writers have supposed that Vespucius accompanied Columbus on 
his second voyage; but the probabilities are against his having done so. The 
acquaintance of Columbus and Vespucius probably began after the great 
discoverer returned from his first voyage. The merchant was greatly excited 
by the reports of the discoveries of Columbus and had eagerly investigated 
them; but he arrived at very different conclusions from those supported by 
Columbus. He thought, for one thing, that Columbus, Toscanelli, and other 
geographers of the time were greatly mistaken in their estimate of the dis- 
tance from the western coast of Europe to the Eastern coast of Asia; and, 
while we cannot positively say when the idea was first formed, he shows, by 
his letters, that he had a very clear notion that Cuba was not the main land, 
as Columbus supposed it to be, long before that great island was circum- 
navigated. 

Juan Berardi, the head of the mercantile house with which Vespucius had 
connected himself on first coming to Spain, died in December, 1495, and the 
management of affairs devolved upon the junior partner. But he wearied 
of seeking the fAvors of fortune; he determined to abandon mercantile 
affairs, and direct his attention "to something more laudable and stable." 
It is thus, in a letter directed to an old schoolmate, that he speaks of visiting 
the various parts of the world. 

Contrary to the agreement which had been made with Columbus, the 
sovereigns, after his second voyage, permitted private adventurers to pro- 
secute discoveries in the West Indies; and even assisted in fitting out fleets 
for other leaders than the Admiral. One of these leaders was that Ojeda 



L'dO AMKRICfS VESPUCIUS. 

who had done so much to subdue the natives of Ilispaniola; and his sijuad- 
rou consisted of four vessels. Americus Vespiicius was one of tiiose who 
accompanied him ; according to some accounts, as one of tiie i)rincipal pilots ; 
according to the explanations of others, as a sort of agent of the sovereigns, 
having a voice in the direction of the ships, and thus classed as a pilot and 
captain. 

May 10, M!I7, they left Cadiz; and after reaching the Canaries, sailed so 
rapidly that at the end of twenty-seven days they came in sight of land. This 
they judged to be a continent, although he does not tell us what were the 
grounds for supposing it to be so. They ant-horod, and attempted to hold 
some intercourse with the natives; but the Indians proved so shy that they 
sought a more secure anchorage. 

This difficulty in communicating with the natives lasted for some days; but 
finally they managed to get near enough to the inhabitants to display the 
articles which they had brought for the purpose of making jiresents or trad- 
ing; and won the good-will of the savages by gifts. The news of the 
strangers' generosity spread along the coast, and for some time, wherever 
they went, they were well received. 

Coasting along the shore of South America — for they were rijilit in suiipos- 
ing this to be a continent — they came upon a village, which, much to their 
surprise, was built after the Venetian fashion; the houses, upon j)icrs in the 
water, had entrances by means of draw-bridges; so that the inhabitants, 
by leaving the bridges down, could traverse the whole town without 
diflSculty. 

In allusion to the city which this village resembled, they called it Venez- 
uela; a name which has endured to the present day. At the first sign of the 
newcomers, the inhabitants had shut themselves up in their houses, and 
raised the draw-bridges ; and as the ships came nearer, the savages embarked 
in their canoes and rowed out to sea. 

Twentj-two of these small vessels approached the larger ones from across the 
water; and the Spaniards made every sign of friendship that ingenuity could 
suggest, inviting the Indians to come nearer. As the invitation was disre- 
garded, they thought to go toward them; but at the first indication of this 
intention, the Indians turned their canoes toward the land, and hastened 
away; making signs for the Spaniards to wait where they were, for their 
return. 

They came back, bringing with them sixteen young girls, as if these would 
be the means of making peace. So impressed were the Europeans by the 
trust which the Indians evidently reposed in them, that their suspicions were 
not awakened by the sight of numbers swimming toward the ships. 

Suddenly, they noticed that some of the women, at the doors of the huts, 
were wailing and tearing their hair, as if in great distress. While they were 



A.MKRICLS VESPUCIUS. 201 

wondering what this meant, the girls, as if by one impulse, sprang from the 
boats which the}- had entered from the canoes, and the Spaniards discovered 
that every man in the canoes had a bow and arrows, and every man swimming 
around them in the sea had a lance. Hardly had they noted this, before they 
were furiousl_v assailed. 

The Spaniards not only defended themselves, ])ut took the offensive. 
They overturned several of the canoes, killed fifteen or twenty, and wounded 
many more; taking two girls and three men prisoners. "Conscientious 
scruples," a rare thing among these old navigators, prevented them from 
burning the town, and they returned to their ships, where the three men 
whom they had captured were put in irons. However, morning showed that 
this latter precaution had been ineffectual in one case; for, during the night, 
the two girls and one of the men " escaped in the most artful manner in the 
world." 

The next day, keeping their course continually along the coast, they came 
to anchor about eighty leagues from this New World Venice, and saw a 
thrcng of about four thousand persons gathered on the shore. These, how- 
ever, did not wait to receive them, but fled to the woods as the Spaniards let 
down their boats. 

The white men followed them, and found their camp, where two of them 
were engaged in cooking iguanas, an animal which the early discoverers and 
explorers were accustomed to describe as a serpent, and to regard with much 
horror as an article of food, until some one of them found himself virtually 
compelled by circumstances to taste it; and found the flesh so delicious that 
he never again hesitated to eat of it. The two cooks fled, of course; but the 
whites, in order to reassure the natives, disturbed nothing in the camp, but 
left many of their own articles in the rude tents. 

Efforts to make friends with them proved more successful the next day; 
and when the Indians saw the two prisoners that the Spaniards had taken, 
they were doubly friendly ; for these men belonged to a tribe with which they 
were at war. They finally informed the whites that this was not their dwell- 
ing; that they had merely come here for the fishing; and invited the strangers 
to go with them to their villages, for they wished to receive them as friends. 

This invitation seems to have been received with no great satisfaction by 
the whites; for Vespucius says: — 

" They importuned us so nmch, that, having taken counsel, twenty-three 
of us Christians concluded to go with them, well prepared, and with firm 
resolution to die manfully, if such was to be our fate." 

After remaining for three days at the fishing-camp, they set out for the 
interior; where they visited so many villages that they were nine days on 
the journey, and their comrades on board the vessels grew very uneasy 
about them. 



202 AMEUKltS VlCSlMTICa, 

Tlu'v were escorted back l)y a great number of the savages, both men and 
women ; and their guides were so eager to serve thorn that they were not per- 
mitted to fatigue themselves at all. Did a white man seem tired of the walk? 
A hainmoc^k was ready, slung on the shoulders of strong and willing Indians. 
Did one of them find it impossible to carry the presents which had been given 
him? Another hammock was at hand, and the presents stowed in that ; while 
Ihe bearers proved absolutely honest. Was there a river to be crossed? For 
•very white man, there was a stout Indian l)ack, ready to receive this burden. 

Arriv(ul at the shore, their boats were almost swaini)ed by the number of 
those who wished to accompany them; while swarms who could not get into 
the boats swam alongside to the ships. So many came aboard, that the 
mariners were quite troubled ; not being quite secure against sudden treachery. 
As the savages were naked and unarmed, however, they subdued their fears; 
contenting themselves with an eiTort to impress the natives with a sense of 
their power, by discharging a cannon. This so frightened them, says Vespu- 
cius, that many of them leaped into the seas as suddenly as frogs sitting on a 
bank plunge into the marsh at the first sound that alarms them. Those who 
remained were reassured by the mariners; and took leave of them with many 
demonstrations of affection. 

They had now been thirteen months at sea, and the ships and rigging were 
much worn. By common consent they agreed to careen their vessels on the 
beach, in order to calk and pitch them anew, as they leaked badly, and then 
to return to Spain. They made a breastwork of their boats and casks, and 
placed their artillerj' so that it would play over them; then having unloaded 
and lightened their ships, hauled them to land, and repaired them wherever 
hey needed it. 

Although they had made such elaborate preparations for repulsing any at- 
tack which the natives mighthave made upon them, the Indians gave no sign 
of hostility, but brought them such quantities of food that they consumed a 
very little of their own stores. This was a fortunate thing; for their pro- 
visions were so much reduced in quantity that the mariners feared they would 
not have enough to last them until they got back to Spain. Thirty-seven 
days were thus spent in repairing the vessels. 

Before they set sail, the natives complained to them that at certain times 
in the year there came from the sea to their country a very cruel tribe, who, 
tither by treachery or force, killed many of them and ate them; capturing 
others, and carrying them away as captives. Against these enemies, said the 
friendly natives, they were not able to defend themselves; and, when the 
Spaniards promised to avenge their injuries, no words could express their 
gratitude. Many offered to go with them; but the whites wisely rejected 
such offers, and permitted but seven to accompany them; these going upon 
the express condition that they should return in their own canoes. 



AMERICUS VESPUCIUS. 



203 



Taking a northeasterly course, at the end of seven days they fell in with 
some islands, many of which were peopled. On one of these, which they 
found was called by the natives Iti, they landed; but not without diificulty. 

As the boats were lowered, the Spaniards saw about four hundred men and 
women gather on the beach, the men armed with bows and arrows and lances, 
their naked bo^^lios painted with various colors, while feathei's were liberally 
used as ornaments. As the strangers approached within bowshot of the 
shore, these savages sent a flight of arrows at them, in determined effort to 
prevent them from landing. 




Vesi'uciits Exploring the New Country. 

So persistent were they in their eiforts to prevent the Spaniards from laud- 
ing, that the latter finally concluded to use their artillery. A round was fired ; 
and the astonisiied Indians, hearing the thunder, and seeing some of their 
number fall dead, hastily retreated. Forty of the whites resolved to leap 



204 AiiERicis VKsrucirs. 

ashore and light with the islandei's. They fought for about two hours with- 
out any decisive victory on either side; some of the Indians were killed, and 
some of the whites were injured. It was only when the newcomers succeeded 
in making it a hand-to-hand combat, where the temper of their swords counted 
for more than quickness or accuracy of aim, that they were enabled to beat 
off the Indians. 

Tilled out, the whiLe3 were glad enough to return to their vessels. The 
next day, the natives again approached the shore, making many hostile dem- 
onstrations. A force of fifty-seven men wassent ashore, Americus being then, 
as on the previous day, one of the fighters; this body landed without resist- 
ance, for the natives feared the cannon. 

After a long battle, having killed many, the strangers put the islanders to 
flight, and pursued them to a village, taking about twenty-five — according to 
someauthoritics, two hundn^d and fifty — prisoners. Thej- burned the village, 
and returned victorious to the ships with their prisoners, leaving many killed 
and wounded on the side of the enemy, while on their own not more than 
one died, and only twenty-two were wounded. They soon arranged for their 
departure ; and the seven Indians from the continent, of whom five were 
wounded, took a canoe from the island, and with seven prisoners returned to 
their own country, with a most wonderful story to tell of the power of the 
white strangers. The mariners set sail for Spain, and arrived there Oct. 15, 
1498, after an absence of about nineteen months. 

There is some question about the first voyage of Vespucius. The belief 
that the expedition was commanded by Ojeda is not shared by all; some au- 
thorities stating that it was a private enterprise, in which Vespucius bore as 
great a part as any ; while he seems to have been altogether subordinate to 
Ojeda on the second voyage, when he himself states that that gallant cavalier 
was the commander. The truth is that one early historian sought to prove 
that Columbus had been the first European to visit the continent ; the above 
account, drawn from the letter of Vespucius, shows that the voyage was 
completed only a few months after Columbus set sail on his third voyage, the 
first when he reached the main land. In this effort, the historian has not 
hesitated to twist things to his own purpose; and has succeeded in creating 
some doubt about the details. 

However this may be, Ojeda was certainly the leader in the second voyage 
which Vespucius made, if we arc to trust the assertion of Americus himself. 
The cavalier had a strong friend at court, a relative of his being a close friend 
of Bishop Fonseca, to whom the management of all affairs connected with 
the Indies had })een entrusted. Fonseca had been a bitter enemy of Colum- 
bus, ever since the great discoverer had insisted on having a larger household 
than Fonseca had thought necessary; and having appealed to the sovereigns, 
bad received a decision against the Bishop. Fonseca was ready to do anything 



A:iiEKicrs VESPUcius. 205 

which might annoy or injure Columbus; and it is supposed that ho actually 
gave to Ojeda the chart which Columbus had submitted to the sovereigns, as 
showing the nature and extent of his discoveries, and the route which he had 
taken. This, of course, was a gross breach of faith ; for Columbus was espec- 
ially anxious to keep his course a secret as long as possible; and the chart 
had been committed to Fonseca's care in his official capacity, with the under- 
standing that he was not to show it unless formally required to do so. 

In tlie short interval between his first and second voyage, Vespucius found 
time, opportunity and inclination for somethingquite different from the study 
of geography. He embarked upon the sea of matrimony, with, as first and 
only mate, a lady of Seville, of an honorable though not wealthy family. 
They had been betrothed before the first voyage, but for some reason the 
wedding was jjostponed until after his return. 

Soon after his marriage, Vespucius visited the court, where he was received 
with much kindness by the King and by Bishop Fonseca. He was consulted 
resjiccting the expedition which was then being prepared, and the accounts 
of what he had himself seen were listened to with much interest. Ferdinand 
was gratified to find that others besides Columbus could succeed in discover- 
ing and exploring these new lands; and begrudged the Admiral the glory of 
having shown these others the way. Fonseca was equally pleased to find some 
one willing and capable to take up the work which he was only too anxious to 
wrest from the hand of Columbus. 

Ojeda had no experience as a mariner, and looked ujion the proposed voj-- 
age rather as a marauding expedition. He was therefore desirous of securing 
the assistance of experienced navigators; and in this wish he was fully sec- 
onded by the King and his minister. The reputation of Vespucius as a geo- 
grapher was such as to mark him as the man that was wanted; and he seems 
to have had some repute as a practical navigator. He was strongly urged to 
make one of the expedition, but was at first disinclined to leave home so soon 
after his return ; but to his natural inclination for such a journey were added 
the urgings and entreaties of Ojeda and Fonseca, and the known wishes of 
the King; and Americus decided to visit the New World again. 

It was probably due to the influence of Vespucius that so many of the rich 
merchants of Seville joined in staking a portion of their fortunes on the suc- 
cess of this expedition. A fleet of four vessels was speedily ecj[uipped; and 
the hitter part of the spring of 1499 saw them ready for sea; many of the 
adventurers who had sailed with Columbus and returned in disgust from His- 
paniola having been tempted to enlist in this new enterprise, in which they 
hoped to achieve the wealth they had vainly sought before. 

They set sail from Cadiz May 18, 1499; and spent twenty days in the voy- 
age to the Canaries. Twenty-four days later, having sailed but very little 
west of south, they saw land; and having given thanks to God, launched 



20(i 



AMKRinS VESPUCIUS. 



thcif boats, aud endeavored to tiud a laudiug-place. The shore, however, was 
so low, aud so densely covered with the evergreen aromatic trees, that tbey 
concluded to return to tlie siiips and try souu^ other spot. 




Nati\ i;s OF TiiK Amazon 

One remarivable thing that they observed in these seas was that at a dis- 
tance of fifteen leagues, or forty-five miles, from land, theycamo upon a cur- 
rent of fresh water, from which they filled their casks. The latitude, as 
stated by Vcspucius in his account of this voyage, does not agree with the 
supposition that this was the Amazon; though the description of the coast 
and the volume and strength of the current so far out at sea would lead us to 
believe that this greatest of rivers must be the stream that he meant. He adds 
that, as they sailed along the coast, they saw two large rivers, one four leagues 
wide, running from west to east, the other three leagues wide, running from 
south to north; and concluded that these must-be the cause of that current 



AMKRICIJ.S VESITCH S. 'li) I 

of fresh water; ^et he says nothing of having entered an arm of tht' sea, or 
of having land on either side of the vessels. 

Having prepared their boats, and put in provision for four days, witli 
twenty men well armed, they entered the river, and rowed nearly two days, 
ascending it something more than fifty miles. But the land was as low as at 
the mouth; and the reconnoitering party, concluding that the ships could not 
land here, floated down the stream to the fleet again. They raised anchor 
and set sail, continuing in a southerly direction, and standing off to sea about 
forty leagues. * * 

They now encounted that gi'eat equatorial current which sweeps along the 
coast of Brazil, dividing into two great streams at Cape St. Roque. This was 
the northern half into which their vessels came; for he says that it " ran 
from southeast to northwest; so great was it, and ran so furiously, that we 
were put into great fear, and were exposed to great jjeril. The current was 
so strong, that the strait of Gibraltar and that of the Faro of Messina ap- 
peared to us like mere stagnant water in comparison with it. We could 
scarcely make any headway against it, though we had the wind fresh and fair. 
Seeing that we made no progress, or but very little, and the danger to which 
we were exposed, we determined to turn our prows to the northwest." 

Before, however, they quit the waters south of the equator, Vespucius made 
many endeavors to fix upon that star in the southern heavens which corres- 
ponds to the North Star in the other hemisphere. Many a night's sleep ho 
lost, he tells us; but the nights were so bad, and his instruments, quadrant 
and astrolabe, were so primitive, that he could not distinguish a star which 
had less than ten degrees of motion around the firmament ; so that his ambi- 
tion to fix upon the South Pole Star was not gratified. 

They continued on their northwesterly course until they had passed ten de- 
grees noi'th of the equator, when they again saw land. Arrised at this is- 
land — for such it proved to be — they anchored about a mile from the beach, 
fitted out the boats, and with twenty-two well-armed men, rowed to land. 
Many of the inhabitants were gathered upon the shore from the time that 
their ships first came in sight; but as the strangers landed, they took fright, 
and ran into the woods. It took much exertion to reassure them so that they 
were willing to return. Fortunately, two of them had been captured on the 
first landing, and one of these was employed as an envoy. These people, al- 
though he says they were of a gentle disposition, are described as cannibals : 
eating the bodies of those who are killed or taken in war; and Vespucius adds 
that the Spaniards saw the heads and bones of those who had been eaten, and 
that the savages did not attempt to deny this practice. 

Sailing along the coast of this island, they came to another village of the 
same tribe, where they were hospitably received and fed by the inhabitants. 
From this point they made sail to the Gulf of Paria, and anchored opposite 



2(tS 



AMK.KICIS AKSl'l'CH'S. 



one of the nioutlis of the Orinoco. Here there w;is a hirge vilhi{,'o close to 
the sea, llic iuhahitanl.s of which regaled the mariners with three different 
kinds of wine, and presented them with eleven larfio pearls, more than a hun- 
dred smaller ones, and a small (luantity of {lold. 




On the Orinoco. 



They remained here seventeen days, feasting on the fruits and savory acorns 
with which the place abounded. They then continued their journey along 
the coast, stopping occasionally to hold intercourse with the natives. 

But they soon passed the part of the country where the natives were dis- 
posed to be friendly. Vespucius says these more hostile tribes " stood wait- 
in"' for us with their arms, which were bows and arrows, and with some other 
arms which they use. When we went to theshore in our boats, they disputed 
our landing in such a manner that we were obliged to fight with them. At 
the end of the battle they found that they had the wor.st of it, for as they were 
naked, we always made great slaughter. Many times not more than sixteen 



AMKRKTS VF,S1>U(UL:s. ^D'.t 

of US fought with two thousand of thoin, .■iiul in llio end dof('ate<l thoni, kill- 
ing many, and robbing their houses. 

" One day we saw a great number of people, all posted in battle array to 
prevent our landing, We fitted out twentj-six men well armed, and covered 
the boats, on account of the arrows that wore shot at us, and which always 
wounded some of us before wc landed. After thcj' hindered us as long as they 
could, we leaped on shore, and fought a hard battle with them. The reason 
why they had so much courage and made such great exertion against us, was 
that they did not know what kind of a weapon the sword was, or how it outs. 
While thus engaged in combat, so great was the multitude of people who 
charged upon us, throwing at us such a cloud of arrows, that we could not 
withstand the assault, and nearly abandoning the hope of life, we turned our 
backs and ran to the boats. While thus disheartened and flying, one of -our 
sailors, a Portuguese, a man of fifty-five years of age, who had remained to 
guard the boat, seeing the danger we were in, jumped on shore, and with a 
loud voice called out to us : — 

"Children! turn your faces to your enemies, and God will give you the 
victory! " 

" Throwing himself on his knees, he made a prayer, and then rushed furi- 
ously upon the Indians, and we all joined with him, wounded as we were. On 
that they turned their backs to us, and began to flee, and finally we routed 
them, and killed a hundred and fifty. We burned their houses, also, at least 
one hundred and eighty iu number. Then, as we were badly wounded and 
weary, we returned to the ships, and went into a harbor to recruit, where we 
stayed twenty days, solely that the physician might cure us. All escaped, ex- 
cept one who was wounded in the left breast." 

As they went on, they were obliged to fight with a great many people, he 
tells us, but always had the victory. No other adventure is detailed until they 
landed at an island, some fifteen leagues from the land; but he does not state 
its position more definitely than this. Two remarkable circumstances are 
stated in regard to the inhabitants of this island, one in each of the two long 
letters which Vespucius wrote, describing what he had seen on his voyage. 
In one letter he says that, seeing no people near the shore, eleven of them 
landed and walked two leagues inland before they came upon a village. 
There were twelve houses here, but only seven persons, all of whom were 
women. There was not one among them, he gravely assures us, who was not 
a span and a half taller than himself, although he was not below the avei-age 
height of men. While they were being entertained by these giantesses, and 
repaying the hospitality by planning to carry off two young girls as a present 
to the King, thirty-six men entered the town, and came to the house where 
the strangers were drinking. So tall were they that each upon his knees 
towered above the tallostof the white men standing. The travelers were not 

1-4 



210 



AMKKICUS VESI'UCIUS. 



a littlo alarmed at tho sight of so many giants, evidently strong in proportion 
to their lici;ilit; but the huge Indians jjroved as kindly as their women, and 
after conversing with tho strangers by signs, escorted them back to their 
ships. 

In another letter, ho says that the people of this island were the most 
filthy and bestial that he had ever seen; but at the same time so peaceable 
that he was able to become acquainted with some of their customs. One of 
those, which particularly disgusted the fastidious Florentine, is thus de- 
scribed : — 

"They all had their cheeks stuffed full of a green herb, which they were 
continually chewing, as beasts chew the cud, so that tiiey were scarcely able 
to speak. Each of them wore, hanging at the neck, two dried gourd-shells, 
one of which was filled with the same kind of herb which they had in their 
mouths, and the other with a white meal, which appeared to be chalk-dust. 
They also carried with them a small stick, which they welted in their mouths 
from time to time, and then put into the meal, afterwards putting it into the 
herb, with which both cheeks were filled, and mixing the meal with it. We 
were surjjrised at their conduct, and could not understand for what purpose 
they indulged in the filthy habit." 

Evidently, Vespucius was nothing of a prophet, or he would have foreseen 
that Europeans and their American descendants would learn to indulge freely 
in practices just as filthy as that which he so condemns. It is probable, how- 
ever, that the weed which they chewed was not tobacco, but a sj)ecies of that 
plant so much esteemed in tho East Indies, and there known as the betel. 
Tho dust was calcined oyster shells; and he discovered that the reason for 
indulging in this habit was found in the lack of fresh water on the island. 
There were no streams or springs; but tho natives were accustomed to col- 
lect the dew which fell upon certain large-leaved plants, and allay their thirst 
with that. As this supply was of course very small, they were driven to 
chewing those substances to prevent thirst. 

They had now been at sea about a year. Their stock of provisions was nearly 
exhausted, and much of that which remained had been spoiled by the heat. 
Their ships were sea-worn and leaky, so that the pumps could scarcely keej) 
them free from water. They decided to go to Hispaniola, from which they 
were, according to the pilots, about three hundred and sixty miles away; 
there to repair their ships, and allow the sailors some little recrea'ion. 

Reaching the only New World settlement of Europeans after a voyage of a 
week, they remained there for two months, refitting their ships and provis- 
ioning them for the voyage of three hundred leagues of ocean which lay l)c- 
tween them and Castile. So Vespucius states the distance; but our modern 
maps show it to have been from two to three times as great. 

They were so refreshed by their stay in Hispaniola that they concluded to 



AMERICUS VESPUCIUS. 211 

make their voyage longer; and cruised for some time among tlic numberless 
small islands north of Hayti, discovering more than a thousand. Tliis por- 
tion of their voyage was fraught with dangers, on account of the numerous 
shoals; and more than once they came near being lost. But the provisions 
which they had procured in Hispaniola began to give out; they were reduced 
to six ounces of bread and three small measures of water per day for each 
nuin; and the ships showed the effects of the long voyage in the torrid zone, 
oven though they had so lately been repaired. The leaders of the expedition 
therefore concluded to take some slaves, and return to their home. 

In accordance with this resolution, two hundred and thirty-two unfortunate 
natives were torn from their island homes and their pleasant, indolent life, 
and taken aboard the ships. Sixty-seven days were required for the voyage 
to the Azores, where they stopped for supplies; and as the winds were con- 
trary when they left these islands, they were obliged to steer southward to 
the Canaries before they could reach Cadiz. 

They arrived at the starting-point June 8, 1500, after an absence of about 
thirteen months. Of the fiftj-seven men who had set out, two had been killed 
by the Indians; the others returned home. Thirty-two of the captives had 
died on the voyage; the others were sold. But the merchant-traveler notes 
that the profits of the voyage, after expenses were paid, were very small; 
only five hundred ducats being gained, which, divided into fiftj-five shares, 
would give each man a sum equivalent, at the present day, to a little over 
fifty dollars of United States money. 

But this small result, in a pecuniary point of view, did not deter him from 
desiring to undertake another voyage as soon as preparations could be made ; 
nor did sickness, incurred while in the unhealthf ul climate of the West In- 
dies, lessen his taste for wandering. He set to work at once to make ready 
a new fleet, being assisted by some merchants of Seville; and had planned to 
sail in September of the year 1.500,, or but three months after his return. 

The letters of Vespucius describing the countries which hevisited had been 
widely published; indeed, there is a dispute about the address of one of them 
which one of his biographers explains by the assertion that copies of it were 
probably sent to many prominent men of the time, as if it were a special 
letter to each. His letters were meant to be circulated, and this intention of 
the writer was carried out by the recipient. He was virtually the fifteenth- 
century forerunner of the modern newspaper correspondent. 

By means of these letters he had gained a wide celebrity. Probably his 
name was, even at this early day, as closely connected with the idea of the 
New World as was that of its real discoverer. He had become as well known 
as Columbus, but had not received those sounding titles and wide-extended 
rights which Ferdinand and Isabella had granted to Columbus before his 
great discovery was made. 



212 AMERICrS VESPUCIUS. 

SikU being tliu loputatioii of the man, it was uo wonder that the attention 
of the King of Portugal had been directed to him. The Portuguese hail 
never ceased to regret their treatment of Columbus ; a nation proud above all 
things of its maritime discoveries and enterprise, tliey had seen their achieve- 
ments far eclipsed by those of a sailor who had first offered his services to 
their king, and had theni rejected. It was useless to try to wiu him from the 
service of the King of Spain; for, disgusted at the duplicity of Portugal, he 
had refused to listen to her before Ferdinand and Isal)ella had accepted his 
proposition. But here was a navigator of almost equal renown; he had 
visited the very countries at which a Portuguese fleet had recently touched; 
and which, by a new agreement between the two countries, now belonged to 
Portugal. We quote from another letter of Vespucius, written after the 
voyage was accomplished: — 

" I was reposing myself in Seville, after the many toils I had undergone in 
the two voyages made for his Serene Highness Ferdinand, King of Castile, 
in the Indies, yet indulging a willingness to return to the land of pearls, when 
fortune, not seeming to be satisfied with my former labors, insjjired the mind 
of his Serene Slajesty, Don Elnmiauuel, King of Portugal — I know not through 
what circumstances — to attempt to avail himself of my services. There came 
to me a royal letter from his Majesty, containing a solicitation that I would 
come to Lisbon and speak with his Highness, he promising to show me many 
favors. I did not at once determine to go, and argued with the messenger, 
telling him I was ill, and indisposed for the undertaking, but that when I 
recovered, if his Highness wished me to serve him, I would do whatever he 
might command me. ' 

" Seeing that he could not obtain me, he sent Juliano di Bartolomeo del 
Giacondo, who at that time resided in Lisbon, with conmiission to use every 
l)ossible means to bring me back with him. Juliano came to Seville, and on 
his arrival, and induced by his urgent entreaties, I was persuaded to go, 
though my going was looked upon w'ith ill-favor bj' all who knew me. It was 
thus regarded by my friends, because I abandoned Castile, where I had been 
honored, and because they thought that the King had rightful possession of 
me, and it was considered still worse that I departed without taking leave of 
my host. 

" Having presented myself at the court of King Emmanuel, he appeared to 
be highly pleased with my coming, and requested that I would aecomi)any his 
three ships which were ready to set out for the discovery of new lands. 
Thus, esteeming a request from a king as ecjuivalent to a command, I was 
iibliged to consent to whatever he asked of me." 

There must have been some reason why Vespucius was so ready to go to 
Portugal, and to accept the retjuests of the King as commands; but these 
cannot now be determined. It is probable, from hints that he gives through- 



AMERICUS VKSrUCIUS. ' 213 

out his letters, that his prominence had made enemies for hin^ in Spain ; per- 
haj^s Fonseca, wiio seems to have been constitutionally jealous of all who 
succeeded, had indulged in some of his acts of petty tyranny. There was no 
open quarrel; and whatever hard feeling there may have been was dissipated 
by time. 

Sailing under the authority of the King of Portugal, it was possible for 
them to take a slightly different course from any that had been followed by, 
'Spanish expeditions. The three armed caravels left Lisbon May 13, 1501;: 
and after touching at the Canaries, turned to the south, and ran along the 
coast of Africa as far as Cape Verde. Here they rested for a while, and then 
set sail, directing their course "toward the Antarctic Pole." 

The wind, however, was easterly, so that their course was not directly 
south. The voyage was a long and stormy one. From the time that they left 
Lisbon, they sailed " ninety-seven days, experiencing harsh and cruel fortune. 
During forty-four days, the heavens were in great commotion, and we had 
nothing but thunder and lightning and drenching rain. Dark clouds covered 
the sky, so that by day we could see but little better than we could in ordinary 
nights, without moonlight. Our nights were of the blackest darkness. The 
fear of death came over us, and the hope of life almost deserted us. After 
all these heavy afflictions, at last it pleased God, in his mercy, to have com- 
passion on us and to save our lives. On a sudden, the land appeared in view, 
and at the sight of it, our courage, which had fallen very low, and our 
strength, which had become weakness, immediately revived. Thus it usually 
happens to those who have passed through great affliction, and especially to 
those who have been preserved from the rage of evil fortune. 

" On the seventeenth day of August, in the year 1501, we anchored by the 
shore of that country, and rendered to the Supreme Being our most sincere 
thanks, according to the Christian custom, in a solemn celebration of mass. 
««-»*** ]vx,^ny other things I would describe, but have studiously 
avoided mentioning, in order that my work might not become large beyond 
measure. One thing only I feel that I should not omit: it is that, aided by 
the goodness of God, in due time, and according to our need, we saw land; 
for we were not able to sustain ourselves any longer; all our provisions had 
failed us; our wood, water, biscuit, salt meat, cheese, wine, oil, and, what is 
more, our vigor of mind, all gone. By God's mercy, therefore, our lives 
were spared, and to him we ought to render thanks, honor, and glory." 

They had reached South America at a point about a hundred and fifty 
miles souHi of where they had first touched on the preceding voyage, or about 
eight degrees south of the equator. Their coasting voyage was prolonged 
until they had reached a point on the coast of Patagonia, fifty degrees south. 
But they did not know that this was the same continent as that which they 
had previously explored ; they had been so driven by the storms that, with- 



214 AMERICIS VESPUCIUS. 

out ob.scrval ions, it was impossible for them to he at all certain of their lati- 
tude or lonfjitudc; and the weather of course had prevented them from de- 
riving any aid from the heavenly bodies. But the storms were not the only 
source of danger, as Vespucius tells us: — 

" AVc had arrived at a place which, if I had not possessed some knowledge 
of cosmography, by the negligence of the pilot would have finished thecourse 
of our lives. There was no pilot who knew our situation within tifty leagues, 
and wc went rambling about, and should not have known whither we were 
going, if I had not provided in season for my own safety and that of my com- 
panions, with the astrolabe and quadrant, mj' astrological instruments. On 
this occasion I acquired no little glory for myself ; so that, from that time 
forward, I was held in such estimation by my companions as the learned are 
held in by people of quality. I explained the sea-charts to them, and made 
them confess that the ordinary pilots Avere ignorant of cosmography, and 
knew nothing in comparison with myself." 

The country was thickly inhabitedby tribes who proved to be very friendly : 
and the mariners landed frequently as they journeyed along the coast. Their 
horror was excited when they learned that these savages went to war and 
fought with incredible fierceness, for no other reason than that their ances- 
tors were at war with the same tribes, and the death of those who had fallen 
in battle must be avenged. Most of them, too, were cannibals, he declares; 
eating not only the bodies of their enemies, but those of their own accjuaint- 
ance and even kindred. 

Yet the magnificence of the vegetation, the stories which the Indians told 
of gold and jewels, the gorgeous plumage of the birds, the fragrance of the 
woods, and the strange and varied fruits and grains brought forth in the 
greatest abundance by the untilled soil, so excited the wondering admiration 
of the navigator that he exclaims: " If there is a terrestial paradise in the 
world, it cannot be far from this region." 

AVe omit his descriptions of the stars of the southern hemisphere, which 
he gives, not only in this letter, but in an account which he presented to the 
King; judging his astronomical discoveries of equal value, at least, with the 
geographical results of the expedition; nor have we space for his description 
of the rainbow which he saw at midnight, nor of the new moon seen at mid- 
day. 

, Not all the natives, however, i)rove(l friendly. At a point five degrees 
south of the equator — for they had gone north a short distance — they found 
it impossible to attract the natives to a conference. They accordingly left a 
number of articles, such as bells, looking-glasses, and similar trifles, on the 
shore; hoping that the savage inhabitants would see by this that the strangers 
were well-disposed toward them. 

The next morning, they saw from the ships (hat the Indians were mnking 



AiMKKici s VK^sI•^:(•us. 215 

bonfires along the coast, and thinking that this was an invitation for them to 
come ashore, a party of the white men lauded. The natives kept at a distance, 
but made signs that they wished the strangers to go farther inland with 
them. 

This was a ser' jus matter; and the leader was at first not inclined to jjer- 
mit any of them 1.0 go; but two of them persuaded him to give his permission 
for them to make the venture; and left, having strict orders not to be gone 
;iiore than five days. 

Six days passed, while the men in the ships awaited the return of their 
comrades. Every day, some of the natives came down to the shore, but 
would hold no communication with the sailors. On the seventh day they 
landed, resolved to investigate the fate of their comrades. There were many 
women among the natives gathered on the beach, and they could see that the 
men were urging them to speak with the newcomers; but all their arguments 
and commands seemed to be in vain. The Europeans, thinking that perhaps 
the naked natives were afraid, determined to send one of their own men into 
their midst ; and a very courageous young man volunteered for the duty. In 
order to encourage the natives the Europeans entered the boats while this one 
of their number went forward to meet the women, who advanced toward 
him. When he drew near them, they formed themselves into a gi"eat circle 
about him, touching him and looking at him as with astonishment. While 
all this was going on, the watchers in the boats saw a woman coming down 
from the mountain, carrying a large club in her hand. When she arrived 
where the young man stood, she came up behind him; and raising the blud- 
geon, struck him such a blow that she laid him dead on the spot. Immedi- 
ately the other women seized upon his bodv, and dragged him by the feet 
away to the mountain. 

The men then ran down to the shore, and assailed the mariners with their 
bows and arrows. The boats had grounded; and in the confusion of the 
moment, the frightened white men did not know where to turn. Terror and 
panic subsided, however, after a few moments; and they discharged four 
guns at the savages. The noise frightened them ; although the aim was so 
uncertain that no one was hit; and they fled toward the mountain. 

They now had leisure to look toward the point where the women had 
dragged the body of their victim; and saw that they had cut him to pieces, 
f.udwere roasting him in sight of his comrades. As each bit of the horrid 
feast was ready, one of the hags would hold it high up, that the men in the 
boat might see, and then they would fall to and devour it. The Indian men 
made signs from a safe distance, that the same fate had befallen the other 
two, who had accompanied them into the interior. 

Their inhuman conduct enraged the whites, and more than forty of them, 
among whom was Americus, determined to rush on shore and avenge their 



'jii; 



AMKUICl S \ KSl'lfllS. 



sliuijtlitorcd coiurados. Rut, tho cxpfditioii was iindcrtlu'coiimiaiKl of a Por- 
tugiu'se orticial, wlioin Vo.spiici us stylos tlio Superior ( 'aptain ; anilln; forhadc 
this course. Hurning witli indignation against tlu^ cannilial slayers of their 
companions, they wi-re obliged to forego the satisfaction of revenge, and 
sailed away from this j)art of the coast. 

When they had hei'u ten months on the voyage, having found no minerals 
in the country, although there was an ahundaiiee of valuable woods of various 
kinds, they concluded to take their leave of this coast and try sonic other 
part of the ocean. A council was held, composed of all whose skill as navi- 
gators might entitle them to express an opinion; and Vespucius was invested 
with full command of the fleet, to pursue whatever course ajipcared best to 
him. lie ordered that all the vessels should be provided with wood and 
water for six montlis; and being thus jirnvidcd. g;ne the signal to sail 
February 15. 




>X IN TIIK SlXTKKNTIl C'KNTLUV. 



By April ;5, they had sailed fifteen hundred miles from the port that Ihey 
had left. On this day began a storm, which was so violent that they were 
obligiHJ to take in all their sails and run under bare jioles. The storm was so 
furious that all were in great fear; nor did it abate before the seventh of the 
month. While driven by this storm, they came in sight of new land, and ran 
within twenty leagues of it; finding the whole coast wild, and seeing neither 
harbor nor inhabitants, Vespuciu'^ '•'butf* he lack of population to the 



AMERICUS VESPUCIUS. 217 

extreme cold, which was so great that the Eui-opeaiis eoiild scarcely eii(hirc 
it. 

Finding themselves in great danger, and the storm so violent that they 
could hardly distinguish one ship from on board another, on account of the 
high seas that were running and the misty darkness of the weather, they agreed 
that signals should be made to turn the fleet about, and that they should leave 
the country, and steer for Portugal. 

They took the wind aft, and during that night and the next thiy the storm 
increased so much that they were very apprehensive for their safety, and 
made many vows of pilgrimage and the performance of other ceremonies 
usual with Catholic mariners under such circumstances. 

They did not intend to sail straight for Portugal, but first to touch at some 
African port. Winds and currents brought them to Sierra Leone, whei'e they 
stayed fifteen days, obtaining supplies of food and other necessaries, before 
they steered for the Azores. They arrived at these islands the latter part of 
July, and remained another fortnight; when they left for Lisbon. One of 
their vessels had been burned as unseaworthy at Sierra Leone, so that it was 
only two ships which entered Portuguese waters September 7, 1502, after a 
voyage of about fifteen months. 

The adventurers were received with much joy in Lisbon; and Americus. 
especially, was singled out for distinction by the King. His ship had become 
unseaworthy, but it was broken up with much ceremony, and portions of it 
carried in solemn procession to a church, where they were suspended as sac- 
red relics. Nor were the rejoicings confined to Portugal. Florence received 
the accounts of the discoveries of her illustrious son with much pride, and 
honors were bestowed upon those members of his family who still lived in the 
city on the Arno. 

The rejjutation of Americus rested not only on the account which he had 
given of new countries, but upon his astronomical discoveries as well. He 
was confessedly far in advance of most other learned men of the age in the 
sciences of astronomy and geometry ; and although his calculations are undoubt- 
edly defective in many points, yet they agree more nearly with those of the 
present day than do those of any of his contemporaries. He was the discoverer 
of the method of obtaining longitude at sea, by observing the conjunction of 
the moon with one of the planets; his observation and enumeration of the 
stars in the southern heavens were of great value to mariners who came after 
him ; and thus his many sleepless nights were not without benefit to man- 
kind. 

Believing that Americus would have reached India bythe way of the south- 
west, had not his last voyage been interrupted by the severe storms which ho 
had encouutei-ed, the King of Portugal lost no time in fitting out another ex- 
pedition. Six vessels were prepared, and Gonzalo Coelho appointed to the 




iJHIFWBECKED. 



(218) 



AMERICUS VESPUCIUS. 219 

chief command of the fleet. Americus was placed in command of one of the 
vessels, and was recognized as the scientific authority of the squadron. 

Their destination was the " Island Malaca," which was thought to be " the 
warehouse of all the ships which come from the Sea of Ganges and the Indian 
Ocean, as Cadiz is the storehouse for all the ships that pass from cast to west 
and from west to cast by the way of Calcutta." This island is described as 
being situated farther east and much farther south than Calcutta, being about, 
the third degree of north latitude; it is impossible to determine, from the ac- 
counts given by Vespucius, whether the peninsula of this name was then sup- 
posed to be an island, or whether the name which is now applied to the main 
land was then given to the island of Sumatra; both answer the description, 
as to location, equally well. 

May 10, 1503, they set sail from Portugal ; making up their cargo at the Cape 
Verde Islands. But let Vespucius tell the story of the voyage, in the letter 
which he addressed after his return to his old school-fellow, Picro Soderini : — 

" Our Superior Captain was a presumptuous and very obstinate man. He 
would insist upon going to reconnoiter Sierra Leone, a southern country of 
Ethiopia, without there being any necessity for it, unless to exhibit himself as 
the captain of six vessels. He acted contrary to the wish of all our other 
captains in pui'suing this course. Sailing in this dii'ection, when we arrived 
off the coast of this country, we had such bad weather, that though we re- 
mained in sight of the coast four days, it did not permit usto attempt a land- 
ing. We were compelled at length to leave the country, sailing from there 
to the south, and bearing southwest. 

" When we had sailed three hundred leagues through the Great Sea, being 
then thi'ee degrees south of the equinoctial line, land was discovered, which 
might have been about twenty-two leagues distant from us, and which we 
found to be an island in the midst of the sea. We were filled with wonder at 
beholding it, considering it a natural curiosity, as it was very high, and not 
moi'e than two leagues in length and one in width. This island was not in- 
habited by any people, and was an evil island for the whole fleet; because, as 
vourExcellency will learn, by the evil counsel and bad management of the 
Superior Captain, he lost his ship here. He ran her upon a rock, and she 
split open and went to the bottom, on the night of St. Lorenzo, which is the 
tenth of August, and nothing was saved from her except the crew. She was 
:',ship of three hundred tons, and carried everything of most importance in 
ihe fleet. 

"As the whole fleet was compelled to labor for the common benefit, the 
Captain ordered me to go with my ship to the aforesaid island and look for a 
good harbor, where all the ships might anchor. As my boat, filled with nine 
of my mariners, was of service, and helped to keep up a communication be- 
tween the ships, he did not wish me to take it, telling me they would bring it 



220 AMKI!I( IS \ KSI>r<H:,S. 

to 1110 at flio island. So I left tins fleet , as he ordered me, without a boat, and 
with less than half my men, and went to tho said island, about four leagues 
distant. There I found a good harbor, where all the shi|)s might have an- 
chored ill perfect safely. I waited for tho captain and tleet full eight days, 
but they never eame; so that we were very much dissatisfied, and the people 
who remained with me in t lie ship were in great fear, so that I eould not con- 
sole them. On the eiglith day wo saw a ship coming off at sea, and for fear 
those on board might not see us, we raised anchor and wenttoward it, think- 
ing they might bring me my boat and men. When we arrived alongside, af- 
ter the usual salutations, they told us that the Captain had gone to the bottom, 
that the crew had been saved, and that my boat and men remained with the 
fleet, which had gone further to sea. This wasa veryserious grievance to us, 
as your Excellenc^y may well think. It was no trifle to find ourselves three 
hundredleagues distant from Lisbon, in mid-ocean, with so few men. 

'* However, we bore up under adverse fortune, and returning to the island, 
supplied ourselves with wood and water with the boat of my consort. * * * 
Having taken in our supplies, we departed for the southwest, as we had an 
order from the King, that if any vessel of the fleet, or its captain, should be 
lost, I should make for the land of my last voyage. We discovered a harbor 
whichwecalledtheBay of All 8aiuts [it still retains the name], and it pleased 
God to give us such good weather that in seventeen days we arrived at it. It 
was distant three hundred leagues from the island we had left, and we found 
neither our captain nor any other ship of the fleet in the course of the voyage. 
We waited full two months and four days in this harbor, and seeing that no 
orders came for us, we agreed, my consort and myself, to run along the 
coast. 

" AVe sailed two hundred and sixty leagues further, andarrived at a harbor 
where we determined to build a fortress. This we accomplished, and left in 
it the twenty-four men that my consort had received from the captain's ship 
that was lost. 

" In this port we stayed five months, building the fort and loading our ships 
with dye-wood. Wo could not proceed farther for lack of men, and besides, 
I was destitute of many equipments. Thus, having finished our labors, we 
determined to retui-n to Portugal, leaving the twenty-four men in the for- 
tress, "with i)rovisions for six months, with twelve pieces of cannon, and many 
other arms. We made peace with all the people of the country, who have not 
been mentioned in this voyage, but not because we did not see antl treat with 
a great number of them. As many as thirty men of us went forty leagues 
inland. * * * All this being performed, we bade farewell to the Chris- 
tians we left behind us, and to tho country, and commenced our navigation 
on a north-north-east course, with the intention of sailing directly to the city 
of Lisbon. In seventy-seven days, after many toils and dangers, we entered 



A.MEKICIJS VKSl'lJCIUS. 221 

this port on the eighteenth day of June, 1504, for which God be jJi'tiised. "We 
were well received, iilthougli altogether unexpected; as the whole city hail 
given us up for lost. All the other ships of the fleet had been lost through 
the pride and folly of our commander, and thus it is that God rewards haugh- 
tiness and vanity." 

Thus ended the last voyage of Aniericus Vespucius. Wishing for repose, and 
perhaps disheartened by the unfortunate result of this cruise, he abandoned 
the idea of again going to sea, and devoted himself to writing the account of 
what he had already accomplished. This was to be the end of his active ser-. 
vice, he thought at the time; although he was younger by four years than 
Columbus had been when the great Admiral set sail on his first voyage to the 
unknown west. 

He remained in Portugal but a few months after the return of his ship ; 
perhaps he was not received with such distinction as when he had brought 
home glowing accounts of new lands; perhaps the King regretted the 
loss of his four mighty ships, and thought that the disasters might have been 
averted, had these survivors acted differently; perhaps he was only desirous 
of visiting again that country where he had lived for some years, and which 
was the home of his wife's family. Whatever may have been the cause, we 
find him in Seville again in the latter part of 1504; and in February, 1505, 
acting as messenger for Columbus, who was prostrated by illness at Seville 
and desirous of laying his case before the sovereigns at Segovia. 

The death of Isabella had taken place about the time that Americus re- 
turned to Spain. This was the gi-eatest calamity which could have befallen 
Columbus; but historians suppose that it was of great advantage to Vespu- 
cius. The Italian biographers of the great astronomer and cosmographer 
suppose that he was more of a favorite with the King than with the Queen ; 
and one Spanish historian inclines to the opinion that King Ferdinand sent 
for him, that he miglit be informed of the plans and projects of the Por- 
tuguese government, both in regard to their expeditions to the shores of the 
New World, and the progress which they were making in their voyages and es- 
tablishments in the East Indies. 

His sudden departure from Spain and entering into the sei'vice of a rival 
nation was not noticed; or at least was not made the pretext for any coldness 
on the part of the King; for Ferdinand wished to use him. On April 11, 
1505, a royal grant of twelve thousand maravedis was made him ; and on the 
24th of the same month, letters of naturalization on his behalf were issued, 
in considei'ation of his fidelity and his many services to the Crown. 

Preparations were at once begun for a new expedition, of which Vespucius 
and Vicente Naliez Pinzon were to be the commanders. Vespucius had by 
this time reconsidered his determination of remaining on shore and writing 
the accounts of his former voyages; the old spirit of adventure and discovery 



'222 A.MERICUS VF.Sl-rCIl.S. 

was ajiaiii aroused in him; and lie busied himself at Palos, eonsiiltiiiii with his 
colleague and making every possible prei)aiati()n for the voyage. 

But since ho was under royal patronage, and the ships were provided and 
equipped out of the royal treasury, he was dependent, to a considerable ex- 
tent, upon official activity; and the state of the country at that time made 
the officials very anxious to act as little as jjossible, lest they might offend one 
of their two masters. 

The late Queen had willed her dominions to her daughter Juana and her 
husband Philip. Should .luana be absent or inca[)acitated — for she was sub- 
ject to fits of insanity — King Ferdinand was to act as regent for the little 
prince, Charles, the son of Juana, who afterward l)ecanie the great Emperor. 
Charles V. 

Ferdinand was so unpopular in Castile that, as soon as Philip and Juana 
arrived from Flanders, where they had been at the death of the Queen, he 
was obliged to resign his authority to them, and retire to his own kingdom of 
Arragon. An entire change took place in nearly all the departments of the 
government; and those officers who remained in their old positions found it 
very difficult to do anything which would not displease either King Ferdinand 
or King Philip, or perhaps both. 

Such was the position in which the officers who had charge of the prepara- 
tions for this expedition were placed. Their perplexities were suddenly ended 
by the death of Philip, barely two months afterthe arrival of the royal couple 
in Spain. Castile now seemed likely to suffer as much from the lack of rulers 
as she had lately suffered from having too many; for the Queen was insane, 
and her father, King Ferdinand, was in Naples, attending to the affairs of 
that kingdom. The country was on the verge of anarchy; and, naturally 
enough, the officials declined to take active steps to prepare for this expe- 
dition. 

King Ferdinand returned, and sent for Vespucius and Juan de la Cosa, an 
experienced navigator of high repute, to come to court. Thej- were soon 
engaged in consultation with the King and his ministers regarding the nauti- 
cal affairs of the kingdom. The vessels which had been prepared for the 
voyage of discovery had been dispatched on other errands before the King's 
return; and the idea of the expedition seems to have been given up. The 
work which had been assigned to the two navigators above mentioned was of 
la different sort; Cosa was to take command of two caravels, which were to 
(be fitted out and armed as convoys to vessels coming and going between Spain 
and the settlement in Hispaniola; for Ferdinand was afraid of the neighbor- 
ing countrj' of Portugal, and anticipated some effort to interfere with his 
commerce. Americus was charged with the provisioning and support of 
these vessels, and Pinzon was to attend to providing arms and military stores. 

Shortly after this arrangement was made, V^cspucius was formally appoint- 



AMERICUS VESPUCIUS. 223 

ed to the position of Chief Pilot, with a salary of seventy-five thousand niar- 
avedis a year, or about seven hundred dollars of United States money, ac- 
cording to present values. This high and responsible post, with many duties 
attached, was held by Americus for the rest of his life, and shows clearly 
how highly he was esteemed by the cold and wary Ferdinand. 

This ofljce did not require his unremitting attention, however; for shortly 
after his appointment he visited his native city. It was during this voyage 
thatBronzino painted the portrait from which all engravings are copied. 

When he returned to Spain we have no record; but in all probability the 
visit to Florence was a comparatively short one. The next four years arc 
filled up with his oflScial duties, as showed by the entries in the Spanish 
archives; but of the life of the man during these years we know nothing — 
only the acts of the ofiicial. Whether the flame of life sank gradually, for 
lack of fuel, or was quenched suddenly, as by a flood of water, we know not; 
all that is told us is found in the warrant appointing his successor; aud this 
states that Amerigo Vespucci had died February 22, 1512. 

His wife survived him for many years. They had no children, but Ameri- 
cus had long cared for one of his nephews as for a child of his own. From 
this nephew are descended the present representatives of the great explorer: 
for the Vespucci, though reduced from their former wealth to poverty, still 
live in Florence. 

The astronomical discoveries of Vespucius would never have made his name 
known except to scientists and seamen, and his explorations of the coast of 
the western continent would excite comparatively little interest, were it not 
for the fact that his name has become indissolubly connected with the New 
World; for, valuable as was the information which he brought home, he was 
but one of the many who visited the continent discoveredat the close of the 
fifteenth century; and the astronomical achievements were of far more 
moment than the geographical knowledge obtained. But from him the vast 
New World derived its name. 

It is often said that Vespucius robbed Columbus of his honors, and that the 
New World should have been called Columbia. Had the discoverer thought 
so, it would have been easy enough for him to have bestowed his own name 
upon the island which he called Hispaniola, or upon that larger island which 
he always thought was a portion of the continent, and which has retained its 
native name, Cuba. Columbus himself appears to have felt no jealousy of 
Vespucius, on this or any other account ; but they were good friends after 
the voyagings of both had been completed. 

Americus, then, did not offensively claim the honor of having discovered 
this country; nor was he, in all probability, the first to give his name to it. 
It was a custom then, and has been the custom ever since, to call newly dis- 
covei-ed bodies of land or water after the actual discoverer, or those who 



l'2l AiMF.UirUS VKSPUCIUS. 

made his journey possible, or the laud from which ho came. I'o iliuslrato hy 
the continent which wo know best, the map of North America, from Hudson's 
Bay to Capo Robert Lincoln, is dotted with names so given. 

There seems to have been no effort to give a collective name to the New 
World for many years after its discovery; indeed, it was so long supposed to 
he a part of Asia that it was unnecessary. A Latin book on cosmography, 
however, printed at Strasburg in 1.50!), the work of an Italian named Ilaco- 
milo, suggests that as this country was discovered by Amcricus, it should be 
called America. 

A'cspucius has been accused of trying to show that he discovered the main 
land before Columbus saw it; and, for this purpose, fabricating the account 
of the tirst voyage out of what he learned on the second. That is, he took 
l)ut three voyages, the first setting out in 140!t; and after this was over, he 
proceeded to write the account of four, pretending that he sailed first in 1497, 
and again in 1499. The points of similarity between the two give some color 
to this theory; but we cannot understand how, if this had been the case, he 
should still have been regarded as a friend by Columbus, who cared but little 
for the material advancement which he had gained, but was only solicitous 
for the honor and the glory which were justly his. If Yespucius had thus 
falsified the history of his life, with a view to de{)riving Columbus of some 
honor, the Admiral must have heard of it; and would not have employed him 
as a messenger in his suit, or have spoken of him with respect and affection. 
■ The name America, in accordance with the custom which still obtains 
among geographers, was first applied, naturally enough, to the coast which 
Americus explored and described. But a portion of this coast was the source 
from which valuable dye-woods were derived, especially a kind which was 
called brazil, from the Portuguese word braza, meaning a live coal, or glow- 
ing tire; and the names America and Brazil were both used to denote the 
same coast. After a while, the second of these names was confined to a cer- 
tain part of the coast, where the wood was actually obtained; while the other 
name was applied to the part north and that south of it. From this, it was 
but a short step to speaking of all that great southern peninsula as America; 
and gradually the name came to be applied to the whole western continent. 

Not in the life-time of the great Vespucius, however, was it so used. As 
late as 1550, North America was called Terra Florida on the Spanish maps, 
while America and Brazil were two names given to the same coast. A writer 
in the North Amerkan licvieiv, more than seventy years ago, thus comments 
upon the changes which the application of the name has undergone: — 

"The fortune of the name of Amei-ica itself is not a little singular, as an 
instance of the mutations of human affairs; which, having been first given to 
a single provint-e, next spread over the whole southern I'ontint'nt, then passed 
on \o the modern, and now, from being the ai)pellatiou of the whole New 



AMERICUS VEsrucius. 225 

World, it seems about to bo confined, by foreign nations at least, to our own 
youthful and aspiring republic." 

Americus Vospucius sleeps in an unknown grave; but his epitaph is the 
name of a double continent. It is worthy of note that both the man who 
first discovered America by landing upon one of its outlying islands, and the 
one who later had the honor to be the earliest white man to tread the main- 
land of South America, were alike noble in character and aims. 
15 



CHAPTER VII. 
SEBASTIAN CABOT, THE DISCOVERER OF NORTH AMERICA. 

.John Cabot — Settles iii England — His Sons — Residence in Venice — Return to England — 
The Cabot Boys' Interest in Columbus — Henry VH — John Cabot Goes to Court — \ Patent 
Granted — Expedition Sails from England — Touches at Iceland — Nova Scotia Discovered — The 
Sailors Insist on Returning — A Second Venture — Death of John Cabot — A Colony Proposed — 
Mutinous Sailors — Exploration — A King's Injustice — In Spain — Henry VIII. — Sebastian 
Cabot Summoned to England — To Spain Again — Grand Pilot — A Disappointment — Return to 
England — Voyage to America— Rebellious Followers — Summoned to Spain Again — Importance 
of the Moluccas — An Expedition Thither — Sealed Orders — Fault-Finding — Swift Retribution 
— La Plata — A Fort Built — Ascending the River — A Bloody Battle — Tracked Across the 
Ocean — A Polite Refusal — Pursued up the River — Cabot Defends Himself — Explorations — 
Innocent and Guilty Confused — The Fort Stormed — Return to Spain — Cabot's Reputation — 
Return to England — Grand Pilot of England — Variation of the Needle Explained by Cabot — 
Proposed Expedition to the Northeast — The Stilyard — Sir Hugh Willoughby — Chancellor's 
Success — Willoughby's Death — Cabot's Commercial Importance — Accession and Marriage of 
Queen Mary — Cabot Resigns His Pension— A Lively Old Man — Pension Renewed — ^\'(ll■thing- 
ton's Unfaithfulness — Death of Cabot. 

(5 I HE conflict known in English History as the Wars of the Roses lasted, 
' I with considerable intermissions, for thirty years, or from 1455 to 
1485- During one of these intermissions, probably early in the reign 
of Edward IV, who came to the throne in 1641, a Venetian navigator, 
named John Cabot, settled at Bristol, England. It is probable that he was 
attracted to that country by the reports of the extravagance and luxury of 
the King; for the Venetians of that time were thrifty merchants. 

At Bristol, in the year 1476 or 1477, a son was born to this foreign mer- 
chant, to whont the name of Sebastian was given. He was the second son, 
his elder brother being named Lewis ; and another child, also a boy, was 
born to John Cabot and his wife, who was called Santius. 

This removal did not interfere with the education of the three boys ; for 
they received their instruction mainly from their father, who possessed con- 
siderable skill in mathematics. As soon as they were old enough, they re- 
ceived a thorough training in arithmetic, geography, and cosmography — 
the three branches of knowledge most essential to a seaman ; and they ac- 
quired, while still very young, a considerable skill in practical navigation. 

This residence in A'enice gave rise to the belief that Sebastian Cabot was a 
Venetian by birth, as his father undoubtedly was; but when he had acquired 
a sutiicient degree of celebrity to make such particulars interesting, he was 

(227) 



22H iSKBASTIAN ( AliOT, TlIK 1>1S(( )\ EKKK <)|' NoKTIl AMKHICA. 

asked about it; and the answer is thus n'<'(irded by one of the cailicst liistor- 
iaus of America, Kichard Eden : — 

" Sebastian Cabotetould luc tliat he was borne in Bristowe, and that at f cure 
ycaro ould he was carried with his father to Venice, and so returned a,<,'ayue 
into England with his father, after certain yeares, whereby he was thought 
to have been borne in Venice." 

While he was still a boy, his return to England took place; but we have no 
record of the year. He was certainly in England when Columbus returned 
from his first voyage, and set all Europe afiriMvith interest in his discoveries. 
At that time the Wars of the Roses liad ended; the King recognized by one 
faction was on the throne, and his wife was the heiress of the rival line. 
Plight}' princes of the blood had fallen in battle during this dreadful Mar, and 
a proportionate number of nobles; so that thorcwerebutfewtoresisttherulc 
of Henry VII., had they been so inclined. This prudent ruler had declined 
to engage in any wars with his ncighboi-s, probably feeling that the country 
had had enough of that kind of thing; and ho was an.xious to extend his do- 
minions, and increase his revenue, by any other means which might i)resent 
themselves. 

To the people of England, who were as sick of war as their King, but who, 
like him, were anxious to "hear some new thing," the tidings of the success 
of Columbus brought great excitement. Particularly, we may suppose, were 
the three Cabot boys interested. Columbus was, like their father, a seaman; 
like their father, an Italian; and if he had only succeeded in making his ap- 
peal, by his brother Bartholomew, to the court of England before his offers 
were accepted by the sovereigns of Spain, who knows but what their father 
might have been captain of one of his vessels? Who knows but what he 
might have taken his three sons, skilled sailors as the boys were, with him? 

Such were the thoughts that doubtless kindU-d the enthusiasm of the young 
Cabots, and such questions they doubtless asked each other, as they talked 
over the most astonishing news of the year. Of the year, we say; for there 
were no nine days' wonders then; apiece of news was worn threadbare by 
discussion in all possible lights and circumstances, before another came to 
replace it. 

Nor was John Cabot less enthusiastic than his sons; but his thoughts turned 
rather to what might be than to what might have been. "Where one daring 
Italian had ventured, another might go; and a western route to the Indies 
from England might be found as readily as the same thing from Spain. 
Doubtless, this native of the City of the Sea loved the salt water; for ho tells 
us: "By this fame and report, there increased in my heart a great flame of 
desire to attempt some notable thing;" and he seems to have turned natu- 
rally to the ocean as the avenue to success. 

Henry VII., learned that Columbus had once had an idea of applying to him 



SKliASllAN CAHOT, TIIK l)lNC'UVKKKIi Ol' NOIITfl AMEUICA. 22'.l 

for patronage, had endeavored to secure his services after his success had 
been demonstrated. But Cohimbus was faithful to the spirit of the contract 
which he had made with Ferdinand and Isabelhi; he had accepted their aid, 
he had been loaded with honors by them, and he would enter into the service 
of no other jjrince. But Henry VII., who loved money very well, desired to 
have a share in the riches of the Indies, and was not content to give it up in 
this way. He looked about for another navigator less eminent, but still capa- 
ble of conducting such an enterprise. While he was searching for such a 
man, he learned that a certain merchant of Bristol was an enthusiast on the 
subject of the Colunibiaa discoveries. This was John Cabot, who was ex- 
ceedingly anxious to follow the example of the great discoverer, and find a 
northwest passage to India. The King sent for him; he found that, like Co- 
lumbus, he was not willing to embark in such an enterprise without being under 
the special patronage of some government, as the results would be so great 
that no private individual could successfully manage the affairs without ex- 
citing jealousy of governments. Unlike Columbus, Cabot was amply supplied 
with this world's goods, and was well able, if the patronage of the King could 
be secured, to fit out his own armament. This suited the King exactly; for 
while he lost no opportunity of getting money, and even went to the verge of 
tyranny by reviving forgotten laws regarding the collection of taxes, he hated 
to pay any of it out, especially for an uncertainty, such as this enterprise 
must be. 

March 5, 1496, a patent was granted to John Cabot and his three sons, 
Lewis, Sebastian, and Santius, authorizing them, their heirs, or deputies, 
" to sail to all parts, countries, and seas of the East, of the West, and of the 
North, under our banners and ensigns, with five ships, of what burden or 
quantity soever they be, and as many mariners or men as they will have with 
them in the said ships, upon their own proper costs or charges, to seek out, 
discover, and find whatsoever isles, countries, regions, or provinces of the 
heathen and infidels, whatsoever they may be, and in what part of the world 
soever they be, which before this time have been unknown to all Christians." 

Under this charter, Cabot was empowered to set up the royal banner, and 
take possession of the territories discovered by them, as the King's vassals. 
They were required, on their return, to land at Bristol, no other port being 
permitted to them ; and while they were to have the exclusive right to resort 
to the lands discovered, and trade there, the Crown was to receive a fifth 
part of the proceeds of such commerce. 

But John Cabot was not the principal person concerned in this charter. 
Late researches have made it appear that he was only chosen as the one whose 
name came first in the grant, because he was a well-known and resjionsible 
man. He was anxious that a shorter route to the Indies should be discovered, 
for he was a merchant, and much of his business was connected with the In- 



■2:w 



SKUASTIAN CAIloT. TIIK niSf'OVKIJKU OK NOHTIl AMKKICA. 



diiiii traik'; l>iit as far as (liscuvi'iy was concerucil, he cari'd far lo^ss than his 
sofoud son; and he uatuiallyfi'lt little or uo interest in extending the domin- 
ions of the King of England ; for although he hail lived there so many years, 
he is dcscril)ed in the charter as a " citizen of A'enice." 




Sebastian Cabot. 

Sebastian Cabot was at this time but twenty or twenty-one; but it was at 
his instance that his father had gone to court and accepted the proiJosition 
of the King. lie it was who was most, of all the family, cnflanied with the 
desire of discovery; and he is the one who is justly dignified with the title of 
Discoverer of North America. 

The world moved more slowly iu the fifteenth century than it does in the 
last years of the nineteenth; and it was thought a wouderfullj' expeditious 
piece of work, when the five ships were ready to sail about a year after the 
patent had been granted. In the spring of 1497 they sailed from Bristol, 
their first landing-place intended being on the coast of Iceland. 

A flourishing trade had already been established between Bristol and Ice- 
land, so that this part of the voyage was through well-known waters. In 
this Cabot had much the advantage of Columbus; for although the Azores 



SEBASTIAN CABOT, THE DISCOVERER OF NORTH AMERICA. 231 

lay fartlier west than Iceland, these islands were regarded by the navigators 
of Southern Europe, as the extreme western land; while the daring Scandi- 
navian sailors who had settled in Iceland knew of settlements which men of 
their race had established in Greenland, five hundred years before; and with 
these two stepping-stones, Iceland and Greenland, the Atlantic does not seem 
such a boundless extent of water. 

It was supposed by Cabot that the land discovered by Columbus was — as 
indeed he and all other persons believed — islands fringing the coast of Asia. 
They thought that whatever land there might be to the south, there must be 
an open chainiel to the south of Greenland, by which the coast of Asia could 
be reached; and this was the passage which they sought. 

Sometime was spent in Iceland before they steered to the southwest; they 
were not intending to visit Greenland, for terrible pestilences had swept over 
that cold and barren land and carried off all but a few miserable remnants of 
the inhabitants, who had been glad to escape to a milder country. 

Through the long summer days they sailed across the ocean, not meeting 
with any adventure worthy of note; for the sea was as calm as the most timid 
sailor could wish. At five o'clock on the morning of June 24, the sailors 
were startled by the cry of " Land! " They had not expected it so soon; for, 
according' to Cabofs calculations, they were still at a considerable distance 
from the coast of Asia, and did not suppose that there were any islands so 
far north. At first, he supposed it only a small island, and sought to ascer- 
tain its extent by coasting around it. 

As he approached it, he found himself in a passage between two bodies of 
laud, both of which were evidently of considerable extent. One of these he 
named Terra Primum T7s«, " Land First Seen;" the other, an island of 
smaller extent — for he still clung to the belief that the first was an island — 
he named after St. John, because it was on the feast of that saintthat it had 
been discovered. 

Tlis efforts to circumnavigate this supposed island proved unsuccessful ; for 
it was nothing more or less than a portion of the American Continent, the 
peninsula now known as Nova Scotia. The island which he called St. John's 
was that now named Prince Edward's. He thus writes of his disappoint- 
ment : " After certayne dayes, I found that the land ranne towards the north, 
which was to mee a greate displeasure." Such were the feelings of the man 
who first discovered North America, when he found that it was not a small 
island at which he had touched. 

Cabot's followers were fullof wonder at the result which had been attained, 
and were all for chasing the white bears and the great stags, greater than 
those of England, with which the country seemed to abound ; but the navi- 
gator, young as he was, was too determined and persistent in his disposition 
to 1)0 thus allured from what he had undertaken. He steadily followed the 




(.'Aiirti- Ai- Lahkauou. 



.SKKASl'iAN C.Ulor, 'lino 1)ISCU\KHKK OF NOKI'll AMICKICA. "^'-V.) 

coast northward, hoping to iiud that passage of which he was in search . How 
far he went, is uncertain; in the map wliich he published nearly fifty yeai's 
afterward, there is nothing laid down above the sixtieth parallel; but it is 
possible that he reached a point three or four degrees north of this. 

Some of Caljot's biographers have supposed that he entered Hudson's 
Bay; but of this there is no certain proof. It is true that he came to a point 
where the direction of the coast, for some distance, was generally westward, 
and that he sailed with much exultation into the extensive sheet of water, 
which he believed to be the ocean that skirted the newly discovered continent 
on the north, and the passage to India which he wished to tind. Ungava Bay 
would answer the description given, and would fall within the limits of the 
map drawn by him so many years afterward. i 

The early navigator was at the mercy of his sailors; when they chose to 
assert themselves, what leader could hold out against them? Columbus did 
so, but probably only for a few days after they were really determined to take 
things in their own hands; but Columbus was a mariner of tried ability; and 
had demonstrated to his crews that he was skilled above all the pilots on 
board. Sebastian Cabot was but a j'outh ; and his father, to whose experi- 
ence moretleference might have been paid, had he been actually in command, 
seems to have gone with his son only to give occasional advice, and to super- 
intend any arrangements that might have to be made about trading with the 
countries of the East, when they should be reached. 

The sailors were tired of the long voyage; they were fearful that new and 
unsurmountable dangers awaited them if they went farther; they knew that 
their provisions were nearly exhausted, and they saw no prospect of obtaining 
anymore on these cold and inhospitable shores; they urged an immediate 
return. Cabot had lost no enthusiasm, and was as eager in his desire to press 
forward as when he left Bristol; but the sailors had lost confidence, and in- 
sisted on returning. He argued, coaxed, and commanded; but with the same 
result. He was compelled to put his ships about, return to the point where 
they had first seen land, and, nearly in the track by which they had come, 
make his way to Bristol again. 

Cabot's discovery was not received with anything like the warmth which 
its importance warranted. Almost the only indication which we have of the 
time of his return is found in an entry in .the Privy Purse expenditures of 
King Henry VII.: " 10th August, 1497. To him that found the New Isle, 
£10." Thus the discovei-er of North America and the author of " Paradise 
Lost" were rewarded by exactly the same amount of money for that which 
rendered them famous. 

But Cabot was not content to rest upon his laurels; perhaps they were as 
yet too few to afford a soft bed. Perhaps, too, his expenditures in the first 
voyage had been such that he was anxious to get some return for them; and 



■2M 



SKIiA.STIAN CAHUI, TlIK UISt;()VEltKK <il' NOKIIl AMKKK A. 



tills ('(nild only l)c done l)y ;i trading vi'iituro witli tlic inliahilants of tlic Now 
Islo, us wo liavo soon that it was thon called. Accordini^ly, he applied for por- 
niissiou to undertake auotlier voyage; and a sooouil patent was issued, in his 
father's name as before. Tiiis patent, whieh was dated Feb. 3, 14it8, allowed 
the Cabot's '• six English shippes, so that and if the .said shippos be of the 
bourdoyn of two hundred tonnes or under, with their appareil rocjuisito and 
neoossario for the safe conduct of the said shippes."" The Cabots wero au- 
thorized to " them convey and lede to the laude and isles of late found by 
the said John in oure uame and by oure coinnumdmcut."" The use of the 
expression " land and isles " shows that the King was fully aware that the 
continent had been discovered; so that we cannot excuse the mcagerness of 
Sebastian Cabot's reward l)y supposingtho thrifty Tudor (o Ix; ignorant of the 
extent of his services. 




Caisot's llKTrU.N TO Engi-inij. 

Yet the King, in the fitting out of this second expedition, showed hiinsolt 
more liberal than he had been on the previous occasion. He could well 
afford to venture something uow, for the results were, to some degree, 
assured; land was known to exist at a certain distance, reached without great 
difficulty or danger, by English ships; and returns of some sort might be 
confidently expected. 



SEBASTIAN CABOT, THE DISCOVERER OF NORTH AMERICA. 235 

What the King rcnUy contributed to fitting out this expedition, does 
not appear; probal)ly one, or at the most, two ships, and a considerable 
amount of money. '' Divers merchants of London also adventured small 
stocks," reasonably assured that some gain might be expected; and some 
mercantile adventuifrs exerted theuiselves to freight several small vessels, 
which were to accompany the fleet under the comnumd of the Cabots. 

Before this was ready to sail, however, John Cabot died. It shows that he 
,was but the figurehead, when we learn that preparations were in no way in- 
terrupted or delayed by his death ; but that his son Sebastian stepped calmly 
to the front, and became the acknowledged, as he had always been the actual, 
head of the expedition. 

Had we such a record of the voyages of Cabot as we have of those made 
by Vespucius, the discoverer of South America, the story would doubtless be 
full of interest. But Cabot lacked that enterprise which led Vespucius to 
put himself forward as the learned cosmographer who, by voyages to un- 
known lands, had vastly advanced the knowledge of the world; the Floren- 
tine wrote descriptions of his voyages and the strange countries which he 
reached, and addressed copies of these so-called letters to all the prominent 
men whou) he thought likely to be interested; the Venetian merchant's son 
sharing something of the cold pride of the island people among whom he 
was born, entrusted to the keeping of a few hastily written pages the results 
of his adventures; these were left by him at his death, nearly ready for pub- 
lication; but by some carelessness they were lost. 

It is only the bare outlines, then, of his adventures upon this voyage which 
can be given. Besides the hands required to man the vessels, he took with 
him three hundred men, with a view of establishing a colony on the coast 
which ho had discovered. It will be remembered that his knowledge of the 
coast betweenNovaScotiaandtheentrance of Hudson'sStrait was acquired in 
a very few weeks beginning with the 24th of June; probal)ly not more than 
two or three weeks. At this season of the year there would bo few indica- 
tions of the severity of the winter, and knowing that this territory corre- 
sponded, in distance from the equator, with that part of Europe which is in- 
cluded between the parallels just north of Spain and of Scotlnad, he would 
not expect any great difficulties from the climate. He landed his three hun- 
dred colonists on the coast of Labrador, and having instructed them to ex- 
plore the country so as to find the best possible location for a colony, he 
sailed on in search of the Northwest Passage. 

He followed the coast as far as sixty-seven and one-half degrees north, 
probably passing into Hudson's Bay; although this, as in the first voyage, is 
by no means certain. He might have crossed, from island to island, at the 
inner end of the sti'ait; having no idea of the vast inland sea on the verge of 
which he was sailing. It is not reasonable to sujjpose that, had he actually 



236 SEBASTIAN' CABOT, THE DISCOVEREK OK NORTH A.MEKUA. 

icucIkmI the bay, he would have returned without thorough investigation; 
since the yrcat extent of this body of water would naturally lead hina to sup- 
pose that ho had found an open sea north of the continent. 

Meanwhile, the proposed colony on the coast of Labrador was not pro- 
gressing. Although it was the midst of summer, and " the dayes were very 
longe, and in mann(>r without iiyght," the settlers found it too cold for com- 
fort ; they had no shelter but their tents, and only the provisions which had 
l)eeu left them from the siiip's stores. They missed the comforts of civilized 
life — such as Englishmen of the latter part of the fifteenth century knew 
anything about — and longed only to return to their own country. They were 
very farfrotn being such stuff as heroes are nuide of. 

Tliey made a few spasmodic efforts to explore the country, as the young 
commander had directed; but nothing of any consequence in this way was 
achieved. The number was lessencnl by daily deaths; so that when Cabot re- 
turned, disappointed at not having found an}' oj)eu jjassago to the west, he 
received new set-backs to his enthusiasm from the colonists. They had taken 
no steps to form a settlement, and they boldly told him that the}' did not in- 
tend to remain any longer on that coast. 

This being the case, Cabot had no discretion but to take them ail on board 
again. But he was not ready to return to England. He decided that as long 
as nothing could be accomplished by sailing to the northward, he would try 
tiie other end of the coast; and put his ships to explore south of where he 
had landed. 

lie explored the coast as far south as the thirty-eighth jjarallel; and then 
set sail for England. "What had he accomplished? No passage had been 
found, for his sailors had compelled him to turn back when they reacluMl the 
Arctic Circle; no colony had been established, for those who had undertaken 
to found the settlement had refused to remain. The one thing which gives 
distinction to this voyage is the fact that, during its course, Cabot explored 
the eastern coast of North America for one thousand eight hundred miles, 
measured ah the crow flics. 

But this achievement, then unparalleled, did not satisfy the King. Good 
money had been paid out of the royal purse, to assist in fitting out this ex- 
pedition ; and nothing had been brought back. There was not even a settle- 
ment established, as a promise of future trade. Could this be reckoned as 
service to the Crown? Did a man who did no more than spend the King's 
money expect to bo received with honors? Certainly not. Besides, the sec- 
ond patent had not been worded like the first. The first, as we have above 
quoted it, named John Cabot, his three sons, and their heirs or deputies, to 
enter on this woi'k of discovery ; the second had named sinq)ly John Cabot 
and his deputies. Clearly, reasoned the King and those who wished to stand 
well with him, since John Cabot had died l)eforc the expedition set out, 8e- 



SEBASTIAN CABOT, THE DISCOVERER OF NORTH AMERICA. 237 

bastian had undertaken more than he was entitled to attempt, when he took 
command in his father's place, without being formally appointed by the King. 

Of such a quibble the King of England availed himself, to avoid rewarding 
Cabot for what he had done, and to rescind the privileges of the first patent, 
in which the names of John Cabot's three sons appeared with that of the 
father. This was a more flagrant injustice than any with which Columbus 
ever met; for Ferdinand of Arragon, while he might intend to cheat the dis- 
coverer of his rewards, never openly acknowledged such an intention; he 
contented himself with putting off the Admiral's claims from time to time, 
always pi-omising justice for the future ; Henry VII., less deceitful, but fully 
as unjust, bluntly refused to reward Cabot for his discoveries. 

Yet in 1499 we find him again asking royal assistance in fitting out a fleet. 
Perhaps he could not realize the depth of meanness of which the King could 
be capable. He met, however, with " noe great or favourable entertain- 
ment," and is supposed to have fitted out the vessels from his own means, 
lessened as they were by the expenses of the previous expeditions. 

On this voyage, we are told, he made great discoveries; but what they were 
worthy Master Eden does not think it worth while to say; perhaps he was 
not altogether sure himself, but put in one general assertion what was usually 
believed. Beyond this mention of a third voyage, we know nothing more of 
him until 1512. 

We then find him at Seville, in the employment of the Spanish Govern- 
ment. What position he occupied is uncertain; he was probably high in the 
naval service, under the general direction of Vespucius, who, however, was 
drawing near the close of his life. The abilities of Cabot were not recognized 
by the Spanish monarch untilthere seemed danger of his enriching some other 
country with the results of his daring and his labors. 

Henry VII., had died in 1509, leaving a treasure of two millions sterling to 
his son and successor, Henry VIIL, a boy of eighteen. This sum, which is 
now far exceeded by the fortune of several railway magnates of the United 
States, was then regarded as an unparalleled amount of money; and to the 
young King it seemed inexhaustible. For a time he seemed bent on no 
discovery but one; he desired to find if his father's long purse had any bot- 
tom. Gradually, however, as the various excitements palled upon him, he 
began to awaken to the fact that other nations had pushed their geographical 
discoveries and were reaping the reward in added territory and prospects of 
greatly increased revenues ; while England had suffered these rewards of en-^ 
terprise, fairly earned by a navigator in her employ, to slip through her 
fingers. Cabot once more became a person of importance; perhaps of more 
importance than he had ever been thought before; and a messenger was dis- 
patched to Spain to summon him to England, with a view to sending him on 
some new voyage of exploration and discovery. 



238 SKISASTIAN CABOT, Til?: DISCOVERKR OF NORTH AMERICA. 

But, by tlip lime that Cabot arrived in his native countrv, the King was 
busily engaged with some other project ; and tlie discussion of the exploration 
of the ^l^•\v AVorld was postponed to suit his Majesty's convenience. Mean- 
time Ferdinand Inid discovered that Cabot was a man of much ability; he was 
assisted to tiiat conclusion l)y the danger of Cabot's taking service under 
Henry and adding glory to the English Crown which might just as well be- 
long to the Spanish sovereign. He accordingly wrote to Lord Willoughby, 
Captain-General of England, requesting him to send Cabot back to Spain: 
and, as Henry VHI. was not yet ready to use his services, this was done. The 
discoverer returned to Spain, arriving there September 13, L')12. 

This was shortly after the death of Vespucius; and King Ferdinand gave 
Cabot nearly the same position. He was given a liberal allowance, and for a 
time at least his position seems to have been a sinecure, for no duties were 
assigned to him. In 1515, however, he was engaged in making, under roj-al 
patronage, a general revision of maps and charts — a work rctjuiring nmch 
skill and ac-curate knowledge. His assistants included the best cosmogra- 
phcrs of the age. 

The same year he was chosen a member of the Council for the Indie.s — an 
unusually high honor for a foreigner not yet forty years of age. But this 
was not all; Ferdinand seemed to delight in heaping honors upon the man 
whose services had been disregarded by England ; and, having determined on 
an expedition to sail the next year in search of the Indian Passage — for it 
was fully known by this time that Columbus had not discovered the eastern 
coast of Asia — he placed Cabot at the head of it. 

Preparations went rapidly forward,' and at the beginning of the year 151f> 
Cabot's lucky star seemed to be in the ascendant. In the very prime of life 
and strength, the favorite of a great monarch whose chief ambition was one 
that a nnm of Cabot's abilities and training could advance better than any 
one else could, taken from a post of great honor to be placed in one that 
satistied every dream of his boyhood and manhood, what more could any one 
hope for, or wish for? It was literally too good to be true; for before the 
end of January, Ferdinand died, and, with him, the expedition for seeking 
the Northwest Passage to China. 

His successor was the Emperor Charles Y., who was then in Brussels; and 
it was sometime before the new King came to Spain. In the meantime all 
was confusion there, every one seeking to do what he imagined would best 
recommend him to the favor of the young sovereign; for Charles was but 
sixteen years old. The Spaniards, by means of one of his nn'nisters, could 
get some access to him, and many of them employed this opportunity in black- 
ening the characters and talking against the projects of their enemies. Cabot 
was one of those who were thus intrigued against. The favorite of a mon- 
arch is always an object of jeahnisy ; and it would seem that Cabot had 



SKBASTIAN CAnOT, THE DISCOVEKKR OF KOKTII AMI'.KUA. 231) 

suddenly been raised to this much envied, l)ut really unenviable', position, 
from one of comparative obscurity. Added to this was all the national 
hatred of a foreigner. The Spaniards who endeavored to influence Charles 
V. against Cabot called him a foreign impostor, denied that his early voyages 
had accomplished anything, and even insinuated that he had not really 
reached land, as he claimed. All this M'as not without effect upon the boy- 
ruler; and Cabot, who seems to have foreseen this state of affairs, returned 
to England almost as §oon as Charles reached Spain. 

He was well received here, for Henry saw the mistake that he had made in 
allowing him to depart; fortunately for England, the death of Ferdinand had 
prevented Cabot from accomplishing any great service to Spain, and had sent 
him back ready to serve his native country. The explorer at once set about 
preparing a number of vessels for a new voyage, being determined to under- 
take on his own account that which Ferdinand had been about to do for 
Spain. The King of England took an active interest in the fitting out of the 
expedition, and furnished not only " certen shippes," but some money, and 
appointed Sir Thomas Perte as Cabot's second in command. 

This expedition sailed from England in 1517; bound, according to some 
authorities, on a trading voyage to the Spanish settlements in the West Indies. 
It is more probable, however, that these writers have confused this with a 
later voyage, and that Cabot was now once again in search of the Northwest 
Passage. 

Accounts of the course pursued are considerably confused, and in the 
absence of any record from Cabot's hand will never be exactly determined. 
We find them at one time off the coast of Labi-ador ; at another, off the coast 
of Florida. Most likely they sailed up and down the coasts of what are now 
Canada and the United States, seeking for some opening which would permit 
them to pass to the Pacific. This was no wild project, according to the be- 
lief of the times; and, at a later day, the settlers on the Atlantic seaboard 
thought they had but to cross the AUeghanies to view the Pacific. 

They penetrated to the sixty-seventh degree of north latitude, and on this 
third voyage to the coast of North America certainly entered Hudson's Bay, 
giving English names to many a prominent point. But again the crew, 
wearied by the long voyage, suffering from privations and from the severity 
of the climate, insisted upon returning to England. They asserted that there 
was no Northwest Passage to be found; or at least that Cabot did not know 
where to look for it; and open mutiny was imminent. 

In such a case as this Cabot should have been able to rely upon his officers; 
the one who stood next to him should have been particularly trustworthy; 
but this was the very one who failed him. Obedient to the leader, the pilots 
tried to convince the crews that the passage certainly existed, and that it 
must be found near where they then were; the sailors refused to listen to 



'2U) SKIIASTI W CAIIOT, TIIK DISCoVKUKU OK NOUTH AMKRICA. 

their aruiinicnls; and Sir Thomas Porto justifiod thorn openly for so acting. 

On a niodcrn vessel, Porte would have l)oon iiiinishcd along with the other 
mutineers; but not so at the time of which we write. Disciplme, as wo under- 
stand it, was then a thing unheard of; standing armies and organized naval 
forces wore unknown; class distinctions there were, of the broadest kind; 
but of ofHcial authority' there was vorj" little, especially in a wilderness three 
thousand miles away from the center of government, ('al)ot could not pro- 
I'eed against his lieutenant, for Perte was appointed by royal authority; and 
probably i)ossossed influence enough to have ruined Cabot, had he been 
huiiiili.itc(l by him. The commander, then, whose orders were thus defied, 
Mi.'ide the best of it, and put his ships about for home. 

On their return, Cabot was generally commended for the resolution which 
lie had shown ; while a contemporary writer says of Perte: " His faint heart 
was tiio cause that the voyage took none effect." But although the blame 
for tiie failure was thus justly placed, it did not alter the fact that it was a 
failui-o. The King was busy with other things, and did not choose to turn 
Ills attention to the projects of a man who had made three voyages and not 
found the Northwest Passage yet. Besides this indifference of the Govern- 
ment, the ))oople had no heart for .su(;h enterprises. A terrible plague had 
(iosolatetl the country while Cabot had been away, and they had not yet 
recovered tiieir energy and resolution. 

Fortunately for him, however, the affairs of Spain wore in a more promis- 
ing condition; and there was a prospect of better things there. When 
Charles V. came to examine into matters, he was surprised to find that Cabot 
liad disappeared. Ho knew something of the estimation in which his grand- 
father had held this Englishman; he know the jealous and intriguing charac- 
ter of the Sj)aniards, and ho saw that the state records bore witness to his 
faithfulness and services. Anxious to atone for past injustice, Charles seems 
to have sent for Cabot as soon as he returned from the Now World. He was 
well received at court, and in 1518 appointed to the high office of Pilot-Major 
of Spain. His duties were now numerous and rcs])onsible; and for some 
time we find no more expeditions to the West; he had enough to occupy him 
at homo. 

Rut the fever of discovery could not long be repressed, when it had reached 
such heights as it had in the annals of Spain. A vast treasure-house of the 
'natives had been opened in America by an intrepid Spaniard; it was in a 
tropical climate; all southern lands might yield just such riches; and Spain 
must ])rosccute her discoveries in the southern hemisphere. " To the South, 
to the South!" exclaims one of the historians of Spanish America; "they 
that seek for riches must not go to the cold and frozen North!" 

The Molucca Islands had long been regarded as the source of much wealth; 
chiefly, perhaps, because of the spice which was there produced. Cabot, 



SEBASTIAN CAHOT, THE DISCONEUICR OK NOUTIl AMERICA. 241 

following the lead of popular opinion, oi- perhaps directing it, advised that 
an expedition should be fitted out to visit the Moluccas, the route chosen be- 
ing by way of the Straits of Magellan, then but recently discovered. But as 
soon as this proposition got wind, the Portuguese Government was up in 
arms. The ]\Iolucca Islands belonged to Portugal, being included in that 
portion of the earth which had been assigned to that country by the Pope, 
when the undiscovered countries of the globe were virtually divided by papal 
authority between Spain and Portugal. 

/ Of course, Spain was not ready to allow this claim, and it was finally agreed 
to submit the question to a council of learned navigators and cosmographers, 
to meet at Badajos in 1524. Cabot's name heads the list of those who were 
summoned to this conference, showing in what high esteem he was held. 
The council met in April, and deliberated for more than a month. The de- 
cision, which was rendei-ed the last of May, was to the effect that the islands 
in dispute lay twenty degrees within the line which bouuded the Spanish 
dominions. 

The Portuguese envoys were furious at this reversal of their claims, and 
retired, uttering many a threat of maintaining their rights by force of arms. 
These threats we leave unheeded for the present, following more closely the 
actions and fortunes of Cabot. 

A company was at once formed for the prosecution of trade with the Mo- 
luccas, and of this Cabot, with the permission of the Council of the Indies, 
accepted the chief office. He received the title of Captain-General. Three 
ships and one hundred and fifty men were to be provided by the Emperor, 
who was to receive, out of the profits, a certain share, not less than four 
thousand ducats. The company was to supply all funds necessary for trading, 
and Cabot was obliged to give bond for the faithful performance of his duty. 

The Portuguese found that their threats produced no effect whatever upon 
the young Emperor, so they resorted to other tactics. A remonstrance was 
made in due form, whereby they showed that an invasion of the Portuguese 
monopoly in trade with the East Indies would be the ruin of the country; and 
that the relationship between them, and the ties of marriage — for the King 
of Portugal had married the Emperor's sister — ought to prevent Charles 
from undertaking anything which would ruin his cousin and brother-in-law. 
The Emperor replied that he could notrelinquish, for any such considerations, 
.\n enterprise which it was his right to pursue. 

I Threats and remonstrances being alike useless, the King of Portugal re- 
solved to try still other means, and fitted out a squadron of three vessels, 
which he placed under the command of Diego Garcia, and intended especially 
to harass the Spaniards under Cabot. 

Meantime, there was considerable delay in preparing the fleet, which the 
articles of agreement had arranged should sail in August, 1525. Naturally 
IG 



242 SKUASTIAV CABOT, THE UlSCOVEKKR OF KC)KTU AMI.KICA. 

enough, Ciibot desirod to ai)i)()iiit his own chief lieuteuaut, and nominated 
a trustworthy friend of his to that liigh oitiee. The other otheers of the 
Company, who constituted the board of managers, objected to this, and in- 
sisted ui)on the appointment of Martin Meudez, wlio had sailed under Magel- 
lan. It iscpiite possible that Cabot was unjustly prejudiced against this man. 
and that his opposition to his appointment was unreasonable; but in an ex- 
pedition like this there should have been perfect concord between the chief 
officers ; Cabot had seen one expedition, of which he was the leader, fail, be- 
cause he had not been upheld by the second in command; and now the most 
that he could hope from a lieutenant appointed against his protest was that 
his orders would not be openly ojiposed. There could be no real agreement 
between them. 

As if to strengthen the party of Mendez — for parties there must be under 
such circumstances — two brothers, Miguel and Francisco de Kojas, devoted 
followers of Mendez, were attached to the expedition: one of them being 
commander of one of the ships. 

Finally, as if to make Cabot's position as dangerous as possible, without 
openly setting a price upon his head, sealed orders were furnished to the 
captain of each ship, with instructions that they should not be oi)ened until 
they were fairly at sea. In these orders, eleven persons were named, upon 
whom, in order of succession, the command should devolve in case of Cabot's 
death. If all these should die, the leatler nnist be chosen by the general vote: 
providing, that if there should be a tie, the candidates receiving the highest 
number of votes should cast lots. 

It is doubtful whether Cabot knew what instructions were given ujitil the 
orders were opened at sea. If he did, there is only one consideration that 
can excuse him for sailing under such conditions; he had contended in so 
many instances with the agi-ntsof theCompanj' — for his judgment was almost 
invariably different from theirs — that he was unwilling to attempt to resist 
this last assertion of their authority, and ti-usted to his own resolution to pre- 
vail over their arts. 

Outwardly, the course of the expedition seemed to be favored by fortune 
for a long time after setting out. They touched at the Canaries and the Cape 
Verde Islands, both belonging to Portugal; but their intercourse with the 
islanders was as friendly as if perfect concord had existed between the rulers 
of the two nations. Their object was probably to complete the^■ictuallingof 
the ships ; and from the Cape \'erde Islands, when this had been accomplished, 
they struck boldly across the Atlantic, Cape St. Augustine being their next 
stopping-place. 

But beneath this show of peace rebellion was constantly seething. Dis- 
putes had arisen between some of the sailors before leaving Seville, and 
Mendez and the Rojas began to complain that Cabot did nothing to allay 



SEBASTIAN CABOT, THE DISCOVERER OF NORTH AMERICA. 243 

them. It was said by them that the commander had laid in no sufficient 
stock of provisions for so long a voyage, and that they were bound to starve 
before they reached their destination; when this was doubted by some who 
were too well-informed to accept it, the conspirators acknowledged that there 
might be enough provided, but that the greater part of the stores had been 
placed on Cabot's own ship, where it could not be reached by those on the 
other vessels. The men were urged to depose a tyrant, and put true men in 
his place. 

There never was a man who had been accustomed to command who was less 
a tyrant than Sebastian Cabot. Those of his companions whose testimony 
has comedown to us have spoken of him with sincere affection; many thing* 
show the gentleness of his character; and there are but few instances re- 
corded where he exercised any severity. 

But those who are determined to find fault with the proceedings of any one 
can generally find something on which to base their complaints; and in all 
considerable bodies of men there will be discovered some who are not satis- 
tied with the rule of those in authority. Mendez and his confederates worked 
upon the dislike of those who had been justly punished by Cabot, or who had 
failed to receive from him what they considered was their due. These, 
in turn, influenced others, and at length the plans of revolt were fully 
matured. 

All this was underhand work; it was not until they had sighted Cape St. 
Augustine, and were coasting southwardly along the shores of Brazil, that 
theii criticisms of every order issued by Cabot became openly insolent. 
Should it come to formal rebellion, Cabot did not know on whom he could 
rely; for there were but two Englishmen in all the crews, and every Spaniard 
might be an enemy. 

At every turn he saw lowering countenances, and heard hints of the unde- 
served favor which had raised him, a mere foreign adventurer, to a place 
which rightfully belonged to a Spaniard. He paid no attention to all this, 
until he was ready to act. Then, with that sharp decision which sometimes 
marks the mildest and gentlest character, making no attempt to argue the 
case or to effect a compromise, he ordered Mendez and the two Eojas brothers 
to be seized. The sudden and unexpected orders were obeyed, Francisco de 
Rojas being taken without ceremony from the vessel which he commanded. 
When they had been brought before the commander, he ordered two seamen, 
of whose faithfulness he was well assured — probably those two countrymen 
of his — to enter an open boat with the culprits, and put them ashore at the 
nearest island. He was obeyed without question, and the ships sailed on 
without the three men who were next in command to Cabot. 

The subordinates in the plot, awed by this severe treatment of the ring- 
leaders, cleared the sullen frowns from their faces, and paid such respect as 



244 SEBASTIAN CAUOT, THE DISCOVERER OF NORTH AMERICA. 

they knew how to give to the energetic leader. But tlic loss of these officers, 
Cabot considered, made such a change in the personnel of the expedition as 
to defeat any plans which the Company might have entertained, of directing 
the course in accordance with tiie views of all the liijrh officers; he was un- 
willing to take the sole responsibility of prosecuting the original enterprise. 
lie accordingly decided to put into the mouth of the Rio de la Plata for a 
time, and there consider what course should be taken. Perhaps he had some 
idea of sending back for the mutinous officers, or at least of affording them 
an opportunity of rejoining the vessels. 

Just before reaching this point, however, he lost one of his vessels, it 
being wrecked in a storm which the others barely escaped. This left but 
two; and he decided that it would not be well, without more ships, to attempt 
the crossing of the great South Sea. 

lie therefore turned his attention to the exploration of the country about 
La Plata. lie had been preceded in the office of Pilot-Major l)y Don Diego 
do Solis, who had come on a voyage of discovery and exploration to this very 
spot. Landing at the mouth of La Plata with a body of fifty men, Solis had 
been attacked by a large baud of savages; many of his men Mere slain; the 
others were captured; and the cannibal victors feasted on the bodies of 
those whom they had slain in battle and of the prisoners whom they had put 
to death afterward. 

The vessel under the command of Solis, from the -deck of which the rem- 
nant of his force witnessed these horrible proceedings, without the power of 
avenging their comrades, returned to Spain witli the account of that tragedy. 
The same man who had acted as pilot to Solis held a similar position on board 
the vessel of ('abot; and thus to these newcomers the scenes of their prede- 
cessors' melancholy fate was pointed out by one who had been an eye- 
witness. 

Just off that point where the city of Buenos Ayres is now situated, lies a 
small island, called San Gabriel; and here Cabot decided to land. Their 
purpose was stubbornly resisted by a considerable body of natives; but the 
Spaniards were equally determined, and finally drove off the savages. A 
suitable place being found for anchoring the ships, Cabot, with most of his 
crew, proceeded iu open boats on a voyage of discovery up the river. 

They journeyed something over twenty miles in this manner, before they 
decided to land. They were then at the head of that wide estuary which wc 
are accustomed to call the Rio de la Plata, at the mouth of the Parana, and 
nearly ojjposite the mouth of the Uruguay. They were near an island which 
Cabot called San S.alvador, and it was on this that they proposed to land. 

But their progress up the river had been jealously watched .by savages, 
half hidden among the trees that clothed the shores of the stream; and when 
these enemies saw that the newcomers were preparing to land, they concen- 



SEBASTIAN CABOT, TlIK DISCOVEKEK OF NOKTU AMERICA. 



245 



trated their forces instantly, and sent a storm of arrows, from every direction 
upon them. Two of the Spaniards were killed, and the others were glad to 
retreat to their boats. The natives obtained possession of the bodies of the 
slain, but declared to the Spaniards that they did not mean to eat them; the 
dcsh of Solis and his touarh soldier followers had been enough. 




Voyaging i;p the River. 

Finding that the island of San Salvador was furnished with an excellent 
harbor, Cabot dropped down stream to his ships, and caused them to ascend 
to the safer and more retired anchorage which he had just found. Leaving 
them there, under the command of Antonio de Grajeda, with a small guard, 
he prepared a cai'avel and several smaller boats for an ascent of the Parana. 

He found the people living on the banks of this river much less hostile 
than those on the sea-coast, and made friends with many of them. Notwith- 
standing this, he built a fort, some miles above the mouth of the Parana, 
which he named Sauctus Spiritus. Continuing the ascent from this point, his 
little force, considerably lessened by the f reciuent deaths which had occurred, 
became discontented; and it was all that he could do to hold thorn to his 
purpose. It was his idea that if this river were ascended far enough, it 
would lead him either to the rich silver mines of Potosi or by a new passage 
to the Pacific. The country through which they traveled is dcscriljcd as " very 
fayre and inhabited with infinite people." 



24(5 SKUASTIAN CABOT, 'llIK 1)1S(( )\ Klil'.ll nl' NORTH A:\IKKI(A. 

Whon they rpuchcd tlie point ;it which the Parana i(iii\<s the waters of 
the Paraiiiiay, the explorers did not continue to follow tiio main ptreani, 
uhich here eiianges its course entiicly, but ke[)t straight on up the Paraguay. 
I'liey found the inhabitants more highl}- civilized than any they had yet met; 
th(>y were industrious tillers of the soil, which they cultivated to advantage; 
and the}- seemed to have a clear idea of each other's rights; but they were 
bitterly opposed to the invasion of tiieir country by any foreigners; and 
seemed to entertain a particular hatred to the Spaniards and Portuguese. 

Seeing that this was tlio condition of affairs, Cabot exercised great care to 
jirevent 11 conflict between his followers and the natives; but care was to lu- 
rendered ineffectual. Three of the Spaniards left the boats one day, to gather 
the fruit of the palm-trees which hung in tempting profusion almost over 
the water. They were set upon by a consideral)le party of the natives; and 
l)eing taken ))y surprise, and greatly outnumbered, were easily captured. 

The fiery Spaniards were determined to revenge themselves on thclntlians 
for having thus captured their comrades; and Cabot at once became a mili- 
tary commander. What disposition was made of his small force we do not 
know; but he was ably seconded in his efforts by the hardy courage of his 
men, who were burning to tight with the captors of theii* friends; and who 
were so accustomed by their profession to hardships that they scarcely regarded 
the dangers which they must now face. Ignorant of the country and mode 
of warfare practiced by their enemies, they fought with desperation. 

The conflict lasted for the greater part of a day; and the slaughter was 
something terrible. Twenty-five white men and more than three hundred 
Indians fell before the dusky foe could be driven from the banks of the 
river. At last, however, as night fell, the whites saw that their valor had 
won the day; the enemy had retreated, leaving them in possession of the 
river which had l)een the field of battle. 

Cabot at once dispatched a messenger to the commander of Fort Sanctus 
Spiritus, giving an account of the battle and a record of the men whom he 
liad lost, together with an estimate of tlie enemy's loss. It was a severe blow 
to him; for not only was his force materially Aveakened b}' the death of so 
many men, but the spirits of the survivors were unfavorably affected. He 
had had considerable difficulty in keeping them to his purpose thus far; he 
had been obliged to holdout before them, constantly, the prospects of enor- 
mous wealth, to be acquired when they should reach the silver mines of 
Potosi ; but now, when they had come so many miles, and had seen so many 
of their comrades slain before their eyes, and had no assurance that other 
hostile hordes of natives did not await their coming along the whole route to 
the mines, they felt their courage and desire for wealth vanishing together. 
Such was the condition of affairs when the sailors received a support, unex- 
jiccted equally by themselves and by their conmiander. 



SEHASTiAX CAHOT, TiiK ui.scovkkf:k OT NOKTII amkkica. 247 

In order to understand what this support was, wc must return for a little 
while to the fort at Sanctus Spiritus, whore the messenger with the news of 
the battle had just arrived. Scarcely had Cabot's letter been delivered to 
Grajeda, when a party was seen coming up La Plata. With liis mind full of 
the misfortune which had already happened, and dreading worse things to 
come, Grajeda hastily concluded that the mutinous officers had escaped from 
their lonely island by the aid of some passing vessel, and had, by their false 
representations, secured the sympathy and assistance of its commander and 
crew. But it was another enemy than jNIemlez. 

We have seen, some pages back, that the Portuguese envoys to the con- 
ference atBadajos were furious when that convocation of learned geographers 
and map-drawers decided that the Molucca Islands were within the meridian 
that bounded Spanish possessions. They uttered many a savage threat, which 
were all disregarded by the triumphant Spaniards. Even if any danger had 
been anticipated from them, all fears were allayed when the King of Portu- 
gal sought to obtain, by remonstrance with the Emperor, that which it had 
been decided did not belong to him of right. But when this had failed, then 
the threats, considered as empt}' and idle by the Spaniards, were put into ex- 
ecution; and three ships were secretly prepared to embarrass Cabot's move- 
ments. The command of this squadron was placed in the hands of Diego 
Garcia. 

Garcia sailed in 152(5, following Cabot's track very closely, to the Canaries, 
the Cape Verde Islands, and the coast of Brazil. Ah)ng this coast he seems 
confidently to have expected to come up with the Spanish expedition, and 
entered all tlie considerable indentations in search of the vessels. Entering 
La Plata, ho ascended the river; and it was he whom Grajeda supposed to be 
Mendcz. 

The newcomer was somewhat surprised to be met by several armed boats, 
led by Grajeda in person. At first, he was inclined to allow Grajeda to believe 
that he was a conunandor who had taken up the cause of Mondez and the 
Rojas; but finding that Grajeda was determined to do battle with such a per- 
son, acknowledged that he was the leader of a Portuguese fleet; and peace 
was established between the two. 

Garcia had allowed one of his vessels to engage in the slave trade; and this, 
laden heavily with its human chattels, he ordered to return home; while the 
others, manned by desperate, resolute men, he caused to anchor in the harbor 
of San Salvador. 

Leaving his ships and a part of the crews there, Garcia manned two brigan- 
tines with sixty men, and ascended the river, still on Cabot's track. He landed 
at the fort called Sanctus Spiritus, where Gregorio Caro had been placed in 
command of the small garrison; and summoned him to surrender. 

" Although ready to serve my guest in every possible way," was the very 



'JiH .sKI'.AsriAN ( M'.iil', ■nil', l>|s(c>\ KKKU ol' .N(»l;lll AMI'.IIK \. 

polite answci-. " I sliall ((iiitiiiiu' to liold command of llic Fort Saiictus Spir- 
it ii.s in tiie uamo of Senor C^abota and his master and mine, the most graeious 
Emperor." 

Whether Cai'o fully understood that (iarcia was indeed demanding a sur- 
render, be kept possession of the fort, as he said that he would, jind managed 
toljo on good terms withtlie Portuguese. Perhaps they admired his courtesy 
in unfavorable circumstances too much to nse any impolite methods, such as 
would have been necessary in attacking the fort; more probalily, Garcia 
smiled contemptuously at the answer, and decided that it was not worth while 
to assault a fort commanded by such a, man. 

Caro seems to ha\e been wholly in the dark as to the character and inten- 
tions of the newcomers; for he asked, as a favor, that Garci.a would liberate 
any of Cabot's party who might have fallen into the hands of the natives: 
binding himself to repay faithfully whatever Garcia might have to pay as ran- 
som for such persons; and linally begged tiiat he would befriend the follow- 
ers of Cabot, should they, in any battle occurring after that of which he had 
received news, have lost their commander. 

Arrived at the point where the city of Corrientes is now situated, Garcia 
seems to have been in doubt what course to pursue. According to what he 
iiad learned from Caro, Cabot had followed the river which came from a 
northerly direction; but the Parana was so evidently the main stream, that 
f(jr some distance he followed that, believing that Caro must have mistaken 
the course pursued, or perhaps been misled by Cabot. But he soon learned 
that Caro's information was correct, and, returning to the junction of the 
rivers, ascended the Paraguay. 

Cabot's force was still stationed at the point Avhere the l)attle had taken 
place; for there were some who had been wounded in the fight whom it was 
judged best not to move until their injuries should be partly cured. We can- 
not suppose that the meeting was marked with very much friendliness on 
either side; but thei-e were lio open liostilities. Garcia, however, remarked 
the weakness of Cabot's force, lessened as it was by deatb, and rendered un- 
available by Mounds and fatigue. He demanded thatCabot should surrender 
at once to him ; basing his demands on the fact that Biazil, having been dis- 
covered by a subject of Portugal, belonged to that country; and at that time, 
the name of Brazil was applied to almost the whole coast of South America. 

Cabot steadily resisted this demand; l)ut knew that ho had not force suf- 
ticicntto defy the arrogant subj(>ct of Portugal. lie therefore ])ut him off 
as best ho could; probably with a promise to refer the whole matter to Europe 
for decision, and the united force returned to Sanctus Spiritus. 

Garcia, having stationed si considerable body of his followers here and at 
San Salvador, set sail at once. Cabot, convinced that he had gone to Europe 
to make as much mischief as possible, and fearing that he would circulate, 



SEBASTIAN CAHOT, THE DISCOVEEER OF NORTH AMERICA. 249 

even in Spain, reports which would bo injurious to him, resolved to send 
messengers at once, to lay the true state of affairs before the Emperor. They 
were to inform the sovereign of the treatment which had been accorded to 
the mutinous officers, of the changes of destination and the reasons for mak- 
ing such a change, and of the particulars of the ascent of the river. Francis 
Calderon and George Barlow were chosen as the messengers; their report is 
still in existence among the archives of Spain. 

Cabot defended his change of destination, not only by the necessity of the 
case, but by the claim that he expected from this route fully as much gain 
as if he had jiursued that originally marked out. He had found, on the banks 
of La Plata, many natives wearing ornaments of gold and silver; and, mak- 
ing friends with them, "he came to learn many secrets of the country." 
One of these secrets was the intelligence of the route to the rich silver mines 
of the interior ; and he hoped to secure enough treasure there to repay the 
generosity of the Emperor, and enrich all those who had taken part in the 
expedition. 

He remained at the fort, awaiting the result of his application for provis- 
ion, ammunition, goods for trading with the natives, and a larger force of 
soldiers and seamen, all of which would be necessar}' for the prosecution of 
the enterprise. 

Whatever Garcia might have done, or tried to do, he had certainly notsuc- 
cecded in poisoning the mind of the Emperor toward Cabot; for the envoys 
of the Pilot-Major found the monarch most favorably disposed when they laid 
thcirleader's requests before him. TheConipany, onthc other hand, thought 
Cabot demanded too much, and decided to allowtheir rights in the matter to 
pass to the Crown. Charles V. willingly accepted the surrender, and pi-om- 
iscd to be personally responsible for the enterprise. 

But he was carrying on a war with his neighbor, the King of France ; and 
wars are expensive luxuries. His soldiers wore clamoring for their pay, and, 
being mercenaries, threatened to desert his standard if they did not receive 
it ; the Moluccas had been mortgaged, and the Cortes, the Spanish parliament, 
refused to raise any more money by taxes. Under such circumslances, 
Charles, however willing he might be to assist Cabot, was unable to do so. 

Besides, just at this time, a more flattering offer than that of Cabot's had 
been made to the Emperor. Pizarro had offered to equip an expedition, at 
his own expense, for the reduction of Peru, and promised to resign all con- 
quests to the Crown. The entire and exclusive range of the coasts of Peru 
was granted to him; and the promises which the Emperor had made when 
Cabot's messengers first applied to him were set aside, never to be fulfilled. 

INIeanwhile, Cabot was awaiting their return very anxiously, at his lonelj' 
post in the New World. But he was not idle; that would have been a certain 
means of inviting mutiny and dissatisfaction among his men. He employed 



250 



Sr:»ASTIAN CAISOT, TIIK DISCOVKRKU DK NOKTII AMKKICA. 



his time and theirs in making short exeiirsions al)Out tlie forts, until the 
whole ncighborliood of the riverhadheon thoi'ouglily ex})h)red. lie employed 
them in close observations of the produets of the (•(uintry; so that when they 
'were thrown upon their own resources for the means of obtaining food — for 
no supplicscame from Spain — they were not altogether helpless. Often but 
one or two wei'c left in charge of the ship, while the others penetrated far 
into the interior, depending upon their tents or the huts of some friendly 
natives for shelter by night. 




(_ija.\i .•,.,, .., IIi.NitY -iiiF. Et(;hth. 

Cabot's men sc<Mn by tliis time to have given uj) the idea of returning to 
their own country, which is always the first wish of dissatisfied wanderers: 
and were only anxious to penetrate to that rich country which was to affoni 
such an ample reward for all the labors and dangers which had beset them 
since they left Spain. It was with no small ditHculty that he held them in 
check until he should learn the pleasure of tlie Emperor: and the delay was 
as distasteful to him as it was to them. 



MCliASTIAX CAKOT, TllK l>It<CUVKKKH OF NOHTIl AMKIMCA. 251 

While they wcro thus engaged in exploring, observing, and cemcnliug 
friendly treaties with the natives, the men whom Garcia had left were bring- 
ing misfortune ui)ou themselves and the Spaniards on whom they were quar- 
tered. They had many disputes with the natives, until the patience of the 
Indians was quite worn out. At last the crisis came. A more bitter dis- 
agreement than usual so enraged the savages that they swore to take vengeance 
for Avhat they had suffered at the hands of Garcia's men; and, in order that 
not one guilty man should escape, they vowed to destroy every one of the 
whites. They had entered into a treaty of i)eaco with Cabot; but they did 
not understand the difference of nationality; and they considered that he 
must be, after all, responsible for the actions of all white nu'U at the forts. 
They considered him a traitor to the treaty, and resolved to act accordingly. 

Their plans were carefully laid, and warriors from a number of different 
tribes were secretly assembled. One morning before day-break they stormed 
Fort Sanctus Spiritus. The surprise was complete; the inmates were hardly 
awake before the savages were in possession of the stronghold; and the vic- 
tors marched against the fort at San Salvador. 

Here, however, the garrison was more on the alert, warned by the fate of 
their comrades farther up the river. They held the enemy at bay until the 
commander could have his one large ship prepared to receive the remnant of 
his forces; the others, caravel and brigantines, must be left behind. All the 
available stores wei-e put on board, and the reduced force embarked, driven 
from America by a tribe of enraged natives. They arrived in Spain, 1581, 
after an absence of five years. 

Authorities differ as to the reception with M'hich Cabot met; some declaring 
that it was entirely satisfactory, others saying that he met with coldness and 
ill-nature. Perhaps both are, in some degree, true ; he was probably received 
with reproaches by the merchants whose hopes he had disappointed, and with 
kindness by the Emperor who had always entertained respect for him, and 
who never lost that feeling. 

There was some inclination, among the Spaniards in general, to blame 
Cabot for the treatment which IMendez and his two confederates had received 
at his hands; but Cabot had so united the sailors and soldiers to him by his 
course at La Plata, and had shown his admirable character so clearly there, 
that there was nothing to be said against him in their presence; while his 
large-minded admiration of Columbus, and j^erfect freedom from jealousy of 
that great navigator, made him many friends; for the Spaniards had out- 
grown, in the years since the death of the Admiral of the Indies, all narrow 
jealousies, and had exalted him to the place of a national hero. Cabot did not 
hesitate to declare the exploits of Columbus to have been " more divine than 
human," and was respected accordingly. 

Cabot resumed the office of Pilot-Major, which he continued to fill for some 



2i)2 MCHASTIAN CAISOT, TlIK DISCOV KKKK OK NOKTll AMKKK A. 

years, giving general satisfaction, and respected as the first navigator of the 
age. In llakluyt's voyages is quoted tlio opinion of a gentleman wlio had 
asked for some information on matters relating to the sea, and was referred 
to the Pilot-Major; and this quotation we here reproduce: — 

"It was tolde nice that there was in the city a valiant man, a Venetian 
born, named Sebastian Cabot, who had charge of the navigations of the 
Spaniards, being an expert man in that science, and one that could make 
eardes [charts] for the sea with hisowne hand, and by this report, seeking his 
acquaintance, I found him a very gentle and courteous person, who enter- 
tained mce friendly, and shewed mee many things, and among other a large 
mappe of the world, with cerlaine particuler navigations, as well of the 
Portugals as of the Spaniards, and he spake further unto me to this effect." 

Another contemporary says of him : — 

"He is so valiant a man, and so well practised in all things pertaining to 
navigations, and the science of cosmographie, that at this present he hath not 
his like in all Spaine." 

While holding this oflBce, he frequently went as chief of small naval expe- 
ditions of comparatively short extent; but nothing new, of sufficient magni- 
tude to bo here set down, was undertaken. These voyages served only to 
keep public interest alive ; they cannot be reckoned as promoters of discovery. 
Cabot thus wrote of them, in a letter dated several years after: — 

"After this I made many other voyages, which I now pretermit, and, wax- 
ing old, I give myself to rest from such travels, because there are now many 
young and lusty jiilots and mariners of good experience, by whose forward- 
ness I do rejoice in the fruit of my labors, and rest with the charge of this 
otEce, as j'ou see." 

For seventeen years did he " rest with the charge of this othce," content, 
to all appearance, so to spend the remainder of his days. But, as he passed 
the limit of three-score and ten, there came upon him a longing for his 
native land. Perhaps the fact that Henry VIII. was no longer King had 
something to do with it; for Cabot's patience must have been tried by the 
manner in which the King took up the subject of maritime enterprise, and 
then cast it entirely aside. This was in the youth of " bluff King Hal," and 
liis later years did not show even so much interest in the subject, absorbed as 
he was in maintaining himself and the English Church against the Pope and 
Luther, and given to sensual self-indulgence. He died in 1547, and was suc- 
ceeded by his son, Edward VI., a mere child. From the nobles ii\ charge of 
the Government Cabot expected recognition. Young as he was, the royal 
child had shown signs of interest in naval affairs, and knew all the ports and 
harbors of his own dominions, as well as those of France and Scotland. To 
the country ruled by such a King, the greatest of living navigators, himself a 
native of that country, was naturally attracted. 



iSKlSASTlAN C;AB0T, THE Dl.SCOVEKKK OK NOKTII AMERICA. ^iM 

Resigning his high office, he returned to England iu 1548. But scarcely 
had he left Spain before the Emperor discovered that it had been a mistake 
to allow him to go. A formal demand was accordingly made, that " Sebastian 
Cabote, Grand Pilot of the Emperor's Indies, then in England, might be sent 
over to Spain, as a very necessary man for the Emperor, whose servant be 
was, and had a pension of him." This woi-diug would seem to imply that , 
Cabot had tendered no formal resignation, and taken no formal leave of his 
patron and friends. It is not improbable, however, that the resignation was 
ignored on this occasion, and that permission had been given him to journey 
to England, before the Emperor concluded that the Grand Pilot of the Indies 
was " a necessary man" to him. 

Although he was seventy-three or seventy-four years old at the time of his 
return to England, Cabot does not seem to have gone there simply to end his 
days in his native land; there was much good work in the old man yet; it 
seemed that he had found that fountain of youth which Ponce de Leon had 
vainly sought in the New World; and whether it was from any definite un- 
derstanding that he would accept a commission under Edward VI., or whether 
it was merely from a general expectation that he, an Englishman, would 
serve the King of England when his services were required, certain it is that 
the ministers of the young King refused the demand of the Emperor; and 
Cabot received, shortly after his arrival, the appointment to an office, then 
first created, of Grand Pilot of England. The similarity of this title to that 
which he had borne in Spain gives rise to the suspicion that the office was 
created especially to win him from the Emperor's service, by showing him 
that England was ready to give him honors as great as Spain had offered him. 
At the same time, a patent was issued, granting "our beloved servant, 
Sebastian Cabota," an annual pension of one hundred and sixtj-six pounds, 
thirteen shillings and four pence, to be paid quarterly. If we accept the 
calculation of Irving, that money was then worth about three times as much 
as at the present day, this was equivalent to two thousand five hundred dollars 
per year of United States money. 

The title being given, and the salary attaching to the office fixed, it remains 
to ascertain the duties. But this is a matter of more difficulty. On one 
occasion, according to the records, a French pilot, who had made eighteen 
voyages to the coast of Brazil, relating his experiences to Sir John Yorke, 
"before Sebastian Cabote," which seems to imply that it was his business to 
ascertain all that had been accomplished by the discoverers and explorers of 
the different nations, and perhaps to combine the information so obtained in 
the form of charts, for the guidance of future expeditions. 

It was during this period of honored repose — for his duties could not have 
been very exacting — that Cabot, for the first time in his long and busy life, 
found time to elaborate a theory which had occurred to him while still a very 



254 



.sr.llASlI AN CAHdT. TIIK DISCOVr.KI'.U OF N<)1!T1I AMKIIKA. 



youug mail. During lii.stii>t voyage to the west, ho had noticed, as Columbus 
and all following navigators have noticed, the variation of the magnetic 
needle, ^^'e know now that the magnetic pole, to which the neetlle points, is 
at some distance from the astronomical pole of the earth, and, consequently, 
flial the compass n;My sonictinir- iniinl in ;i iliffcniil direction from dui- 




bLBAsmx Cabot and iiit CosMOGrAiiii i s 
north. But tiiis was not dreamed of in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries; 
and many of the most eminent navigators of the day puzzled their brains in 
vain to lind a solution of the difficulty. Cabot had noted the fact as a youth 
of twenty; and after the lapse of more than fifty years he had not found an 
e.Kplauation. 



SEBASTIAN CABOT, THE DISCOVERER OV NORTH AMERICA. 2oO 

But in the court of Spain or the wilds of L:i Plata, while there had been no 
consecutive days and hours of meditation, there had doubtless been nuiny a 
moment when his mind would recur to the great problem. An explanation 
would suggest itself to him, and be turned over in his mind; then some press- 
ing duty would call him away from his quiet thought, and the subject must 
be laid aside. The next time that he had such a short period of leisure, he 
would perhaps see the flaw in the preceding day's argument, which had not 
been seen then; and yet another theory would be thought out. Thus year 
after year went by, and still the variation of the magnetic needle was not 
explained. 

When the young King learned that Cabot had studied long on this subject, 
and believed that he had found the reason of the variation, he insisted that 
there should be a convocation of the learned men of the kingdom, before 
whom the Grand Pilot might lay the result of his studies; thus giving official 
recognition to the fact that he had first explained it. He showed the extent 
of the variation by a carefully prepared chart, where the results of his many 
observations were carefully noted; and showed that in the same longitude it 
was different in different latitudes. His theoi-y was not that which has since 
been generally accepted, but it attracted the attention of learned men all 
over England, and the fame which he acquired by this means spread to the 
continent. 

From a variety of causes, English commerce had become almost extinct; 
and in 1551 the merchants of that country resolved to find the causes of the 
stagnation of trade, and remove them if possible. "Certaine grave citizens 
of London, and men of great wisedonie and carefulle for the good of their 
countrey, began to thinke with themselves how this mischief might bee 
remedied. * * » * And whereas at the same time one Sebastian Cabota, 
a man in those days very renowned, happened to bee in London, they began 
first of all to deale and consult diligently with him." 

It might seem, to the casual observer, that the man of seventy-seven years 
was better fitted to explain his theories to a gathering of learned men that to 
propose remedies for business stagnation, particularly when he was expected 
to take an active part in applying those remedies; but in fact, Cabot was so 
active and energetic in his age that we might suppose he was a much younger 
man than he was then thought to be, if there were no record of his having 
been in command of an expedition which sailed from England fifty-five years 
before these " grave citizens of London" bade him bestir himself to revive 
English commerce. 

To Cabot, it seemed that the English, who had failed to find a market 
among neighboring nations for their wares, might find one in the far North, 
if it were only better known. But at the very outset, the merchants were 
oi)posed by a powerful foreign <-orporation, having an establishment in Lon- 



256 SKBASTIAN CABOT, TlIK DISCOVERKR OF NOKTIt A.MKKICA. 

don, and claiming a monopoly of tho trade with the northern nations. 

This corporation was composed of the agents of certain largo commercial 
houses, chiefly in Antwerp and Hamburg; obtaining first the privilege of 
trading with Englishmen — for all business was conducted by royal permission 
then — they had gone on, step by step, until each of the principal nations of 
Europe, including England, had granted them a monopoly of tlie trade with 
the far North. It was against this corporation, known as The Stilyard, that 
the efforts of the merchants must be first directed. 

When an individual or a corporation has had a monopoly of any J)ranch of. 
business for any length of time, it is not difficult to find abuses and infringe- 
ments of tho laws, committed because they consider themselves characters 
privileged above ordinary citizens. It was thus with the Stilyard; the cor- 
poration, by its agents, was found to bo guilty of certain fraudulent acts; and 
a complaint was entered by the new company before the King's Privy Council. 
In ascertaining the nature of their offenses Cabot had taken a prominent 
part ; and his name lent much weight to this petition. We find this paragraph 
in the diary of the young King: — 

^^ Fthruanj 23, l')ijl. A decree was made by tho Board, that, upon know- 
ledge and information of their charters, they had found: first, that they — the 
Stilyard — wore no sufficient corporation ; secondly, that their number, names, 
and nature, were unknown; thirdly, that, when they had forfeited their 
liberties. King Edward the Fourth did restore them on this condition, that 
they should color no strangers' goods, which they had done. For these con- 
siderations, sentence was given that they had forfeited their liberties [privi- 
leges] and were in like case with other strangers." 

But the great corporation was not willing to yield so readily; and the case 
was again brought before the Council. The former judgment was confirmed : 
and probably because of his exertions in this nuitter, and exposure of frauds 
which had been practised on the people, Cabot received a consideralile sum 
of money from the royal treasury, which is thus entered on the ac- 
counts: — 

"To Sebastian Cabota, the groat seaman, two liundrod p()uu(U, by way of 
the King's Majesty's reward, dated in March, Io.tI." 

Thus for discovering flaws in mercantile transactions ho had icccivod just 
twenty times the sum that was considered sufficient recompense for having 
discovered the "New I.sle," although tiiat was llio continent of North 
America. 

Three ships wore prepared for tho oxpoditinn; gieal caro being taken in 
their construction, from the choice of the plank, " very strong and well sea- 
soned," to the minutest detail of tho rigging. For tho first time in tho his- 
tory of English shipping, copper was employed to sheathe the bottoms of tho 
vessels. The best seamen obtainable were secured; and tho venerable Grand 




Wix-raRiNO i-v TiU': Aiutr- Rr.oiox. 



(257) 



258 SEHASTIAN fAnOT, TIIK UISCOVEKKR OK Nt)KTH AMKRICA. 

Pilot of Engliiiul wrote with liis own hand a volume of instructions in duty, 
wliirh were ordered to bo read before the ships' crews evcr^' week. 

May '20, 1,').');?, the three vessels, under the chief captaincy of tall and hand- 
some Sir Hugh Willoughby — he was chosen as leader because " of his goodly 
personage, as also for his singular skill in the services of warro " — dropped 
down the Thames to Greenwich. The court was waiting; and "presently 
the courtiers came running out, and the common people flockt together, 
standing very thick upon the shoari-; the Privie Council, they lookt out of the 
windows of the court, and the rest rannc up to the toppesof the towers; the 
ships hereupon discharge their ordnance, and shoot off their pieces after the 
manner of warre, and of the si-a, insomuch that the toppes of the hills 
sounded therewith, the valley and the waters gave an echo, and the mariners 
tliej' shouted in such sort that the skie rang again with the noise thereof." 

The venerable seaman who had planned and directed the expedition, the 
stalwart young soldiei's and sailors who were to conduct it, the " grave and 
revei-end seigniors " by whose advice the authority to do so was given, the 
children who looked eagerly on at an enterprise such as their young ambition 
might now only dream of, were all there; only the boy of sixteen, in whose 
name all those things were done, the high and mighty Prince, King p]dward 
the Sixth, was absent; for he lay sick of that disease which soon afterward 
caused his death. 

A rendezvous was ajipointed for the vessels in case they should be sepa- 
rated by storms; and they sailed gaily away from the coast of England. The 
precaution proved only too necessary, although the ships did not all reach the 
point which had been agreed upon. Chancellor, who was second in com- 
mand, became separated from the others by a storm off the coast of Norway; 
and having cruised for sometime, in the hope of rejoining his companions, 
put by chance into the Bay of St. Nicholas, on the coast of Eussia. Here 
he found the Grand Duke, as the ruler of that country was then called in 
Europe, at war with the Livonians. However, he was enabled to obtain an 
audience of him, and succeeded in making a commercial treaty and estab- 
lishing a trade which was long pursued, with great success, by the English. 

The accounts of the adventures of the other two vessels are drawn from the 
journal of Sir Hugh Willoughby himself. It must here be very briefly sum- 
marized. Having wandered about the unknown northern seas for some time 
after parting with his consort, the two ships made land in the seventy-second 
degree of north latitude; the place being called, on many old maps. Sir Hugh 
Willoughby's Country. Ho followed the coast for some distance, and finally 
was forced, by the advance of winter, into a harbor on the coast of Lapland. 
The journal gives a pathetic picture of their attempts to reach the rendezvous, 
their resolution to pass the winter on this unknown coast, and their extreme 
destitution after the landing was effected. The inhabitants of that part of 



SKBASTIAN CABOT, TIIIC DISC'OVKKKK <)l' NORTH A.MEKICA. 2.li) 

the country, ^vc are told, leave the coast during the winter, finding it warmer 
inland; they probably migrate southwardly; thus "\Vill()ughl)y and his men 
built their rude huts upon an uninhabited coast. 

Before the winter was fairly upon them, however, they made many efforts 
to find some trace of inhabitants. We find this entry in the journal, written 
in September:^ 

"We sent out three men .south-south-west, to search if they could find 
people, who went three days' journey, but could find none; after that, we 
sent other three men westward four days' journey which also returned with- 
out finding any people. Then sent we three men southeast three days jour- 
ney, who, in like sort, returned without finding of people, or any similitude 
of habitation." 

For three months, probably, they lingered on in this far northern land, 
suffering untold agonies by reason of want and cold. The ne.xt year, two 
fishers, chancing to pass that way, found the huts which they had built; in 
them were the seventy-two persons who had constituted the crews of the ships 
which lay deserted and decayed, driven by the winds upon the shore. Near 
the body of one of the men, all of whom had evidently starved or frozen to 
death, lay a volume of manuscript; he was the tall and goodly Sir Hugh 
Willoughby, the commander of the expedition; and this was his journal. It 
ended with the passage above quoted. 

Willoughby had fallen a victim to the frozen North, which has destroyed 
so many other brave men; we have seen that his companion was more suc- 
cessful. In consequence of the treaty which Chancellor succeeded in nego- 
tiating with the Russian Government, a charter was granted to an English 
company in 1554 or 1555, in which Sebastian Cabot, in consideration of his 
having originated the enterprise, was named Governor for life. 

The privileges which the Grand Duke shortly afterward granted to this 
company show that it was an extensive concern, with a high reputation in the 
mercantile world. The trade with Russia increased in value and extent, and 
gave a fresh impulse to the productive industries of England; laying the 
foundations of that manufacturing activity which distinguishes her to-day. 

It must have delighted the old man to watch the growth of the trade which 
he had first thought of establishing. After the venture of Sir Hugh Wil- 
loughby, four ships were prepared for the purpose; and the number was in- 
creased every year. The Grand Duke, or Czar, continued to favor the traders, 
and a large branch was established at Moscow, then the capital of Russia. 
Cabot was no mere figure-head; he took an active interest in these affairs, 
and superintended them with untiring energy. It was he who improved, if 
not established, the whale fisheries of Spitzbergen, and the famous fisheries 
off Newfoundland. Campbell says of him : — 

" With strict justice, it may be said of Sebastian Cabot that he wa.s the 



■Ji'iU 



SKIiASTlAN C'AHOT, TIIK DISCOVKKKK Ol' NOKTH AMKKICA. 



author of our maritime strength, and opened the way to those improvonunts 
wiiic'h liavc reiulcred us so great, so eminent, so flourishing a people." 

But tlie deutii of Edward VI. had casta gloom over liis fortunes in one re- 
spect. Without taking into account the difference in religious belief, there 
were many points in which the policy of his reign was reversed by his suc- 
cessor, and the favorites of the young King and his ministers were far from 
being the favorites of the new (^ueen. 




Chancellor bf-fork iiu. c'/ak 



Cabot was regarded with less disfavor than some others ; perhaps his age 
commanded a respect which was shown to nothing else. But he wasnuide to 
feel, very often, his dependence upon the Crown; and he constantly saw 



SEBASTIAN CABOT, TIIK DISCOVEHI'.U f)F NORTH AMHKICA. ^(il 

others advanced to positions to which lie was justly entitled. It miidit l)c 
said that these were but natural actions on the part of Queen Mary and her 
counselors, they supposing that a man of Cabot's advanced ago would wish 
rather for rest than for any new occupation; and assigning these duties to 
younger men, as jiossessingmore of the energy proper to youth, and as those 
upon whom such tasks must devolve at some time, even were CaV)ot to pcv- 
forni them now. But the fact that his pension remained unpaid after the 
death of Edward, shows that this action was not based on any consideration 
for Cabot's intirmities. 

Within a year after her accession, Mary married Philip II. of Spain, the son 
of that great Emperor, Charles V., who had so long been a patron of Cabot. 
Philip, wlio was narrow-minded and very jealous, bitterly resented Cabot's 
having left Spain and refusal to return. Probably some rumors of this feel- 
ing had reached the ears of the venerable seaman; for seven days after the 
King arrived in England, Cabot formally resigned the pension grantt d him 
by King Edward. 

But these adverse circumstances do not seem to have affected his spirits. 
An extract from the journal of one Stephen Burroughs shows that he was, at 
eighty, liglit of heart and foot. We modernize the spelling: — 

" The 27th, being Monday, the right worshipful Sebastian Cabot came 
aboard our pinnace at Gravesend, accompanied with divers gentleuiea and 
gentlewomen, who, after that they had viewed our pinnace, and tasted of 
such cheer as we could make them al)oard, they went ashore, giving to our 
mariners right lil)eral rewards; and the good old gentleman. Master Cabot, 
gave to the poor most liberal alms, wishing them to pray for the good fortune 
and prosperous success of the Searchfliriff, our pinnace. And then, at the 
Sign of the Christopher, he and his friends banqueted, and made me, and 
them that were in the company, great cheer; and so for very joy that he had 
to see the towardness of our intended discovery, he entered into the dance 
himself, among the rcstof the young and lusty company; which being ended, 
he and his friends departed, most gently commending us to the governance 
of Almighty God." 

Two years after her accession, Mary renewed the pension which the ex- 
pl<n-er had resigned a year before; but he could hardly have been in need 
(luring the time that he was deprived of it. His inherited fortune must have 
amounted to a considerable sum; and although much had been spent in fitting 
out those expeditions which had proved unsuccessful, something remained, 
and was added to, during the long years that he held well-rewarded posts of 
iionor. This renewed pension, however, was not granted to Cabot alone; 
lialf of it was granted to William Worthington, who was commissioned to 
prepare an account of Cabot's discoveries. The explorer's manuscripts were 
turned over to him for this purpose; but he not only failed to perform the 



262 SEBASTIAN CABOT, TIIK UISCOVEKKR OK NOKTll A.MKKUA. 

duty assigned to liiin, but made away with these precious di)euincnts so coin- 
ploli'ly lliat tlicy li:ive never been recovered. This was prohaMy done at tlie 
instance of KingPhih'p, wlio was naturally anxious to prevent England from 
proving any rightto the New AVorld; and his influence would liave beensuf- 
ticient to secure AVorthington against any punishment that might otherwise 
have overtaken him. 

This is all that there is to tell, save that his friend and historian, Richard 
lulen, .stood by his dealh-hed and wati-hed the passage of the weary soul, 
'i'he powers that had shone so long in brilliancy gave way at the last. " The 
good old man liad not even in the article of death sluiken off all worldlie 
vanitie," for he recuri'ed to the scenes of his youth; he spoke much of his 
early voyages; and even " spake flightilie " of a divine revelation with regard 
to an infallible nu'thod of ascertaining longitude, which he was not permitted 
to reveal; and then the — 

" Heroic sailor-soul 
Was passing on its happier voyage." 

He is supposed to have died in London about l."),")?; but there is no definite 
record of the time or place. Nor has his last resting-place been marked by 
any stone, to tell us where lies the dust of Sebastian Cabot. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

BALBOA, THE DISCOVERER OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 

Early Life — Voyage in a Cask — Governor of Darien — " Where is your Comrade? " — Ex- 
ploring Expeditions — Golden Gifts — The 8avage Chief's Promise — Difficulties of the Governor 
— Aid from Ilispaniolo — " To the Land of Gold I" — A Toilsome March — The First Sight of 
; the Pacific — A Splendid Vaunt — Return to Darien — Reception of News at Court — Balboa 
Superseded — Two Parties Formed — Pestilence and Famine — Balboa Appointed Adelantado 
of the South Sea Countries — A Vila's Enmity — A Peacemaker — Avila's Treachery — Balboa's 
Trial — Condemned — Executed — Removal of Colony. 

IN the year 1475, at the Spanisli town of Xeres de los Caballeros, there 
was born a son to the family of Nunez tie Balboa, who was given the 
Christian name of Vasco. The child grew to manhood, and the 
meager records of his youth say that the young man was rather wild. 

Balboa settled in Ilispaniola, near San Domingo, and began to cultivate 
the soil. But this slow process of getting rich did not satisfy the impatient 
young Spaniard, and his modest gains were not enough to answer the 
demands of his extravagant habits. He accordingly laid his plans to 
evade his creditors by secretly leaving the country. 

Bastidas had continued his voyage to the main land, and had found a 
settlement, called Santa Maria del Antigua, near the mouth of a small 
river on the isthmus ; although it was not then known how narrow a neck 
of land separated the Atlantic from another ocean ; nor had the eye of 
white man ever yet beheld the vast expanse of water which separates 
America from Asia. 

Some years after this adventure, Ojeda led an expedition to the new 
colony of Darien, and founded the town of San Sebastian. This was in 
1509; and he left orders with Francisco de Enciso, an adventurous lawyer 
of San Domingo, to tit out an expedition the following year to convey 
provisions and other supplies to the new settlement. Balboa heard of 
this, and recognized his opportunity. He caused a large cask to be con- 
veyed to his farm, and stowed himself away in this; and by arrangement 
with Enciso, it was trtken on board tlie ship as if it contained provisions. 
By such means did the young Spanish nobleman, the future governor and 
discoverer, evade his creditors. 

The expedition arrived at San Sebastian, oidy to Hnd the once flourishing 
colony a deserted ruin. Enciso was at a loss what to do next; and finally de- 
cided to adopt the advice of Balboa — who had soon come out of his cask — 
and sail for Darien and the town of Santa Maria del Antigua, which was also 

(263) 



■JM 



HAI-ISU.V, TIIK UISCOVEREll OF THK rACIKlC OCEAN. 



nearly (k'scrlcd. His pi-oposal was accoptcd; and llic ships sailed for llie 
place named. 

Enciso atleniptecl to pn)liil)it the adventurers from trading witli the natives 
for fiold on llieir own account; considering that all such coninierco was the 
right of tho Crown, of which he was the reprosontativo. This effort, natur- 
ally enough, was far from successful; it jirovoked the adventurous, gold-seek- 
iui,' followers beyond endurance; and they refused to recognize Enciso's au- 
Ihoritv. 




Balboa. 

O.jeda delcniiiiietl lo form a si'tl U iiu'ut at Cuniana, as a j)art of the South 
American coast was called liy tho natives; but, anxious to secure the friend- 
shij) of his dusky neighboi's, he concluded that it would be better to respect 
llieii property, and rob those at a distance of the hammocks, cotton, and so 
forth, whi(;h he might need. The scheme, however, was not an entire suc- 
cess, as no provisions were found; and a vessel had to be sent back to Ja- 
maica for necessary food. 

Arriving at Coquibacao, and landing at Bahia Honda Bay, he determined 
lo form his settlement there. The natives, however, did not approve of this 



BALBOA, Till': DISCOVERER OF 'JIIE PACIFIC OCEAN. 265 

determination, and the moment that a party tried to hind, asliowcrof arrows 
drove them back to their ships. Ojeda at once hinded with his whole force, 
and so frightened the Indians that they allowed the construction of the for- 
tress to proceed in peace. 

But the vessel sent to Jamaica for supplies had not reached the infant col- 
ony, and food became very scarce. Ojeda led many foraging parties to the 
neighboring Indian villages, and collected some provisions; but, determined 
that they should not be wasted, he locked them up and gave them out onlj'at 
stated intervals in certain quantities. The treasure, too, which was procured 
from the same source, was kept under lock and key by him. This did not 
suit the careless, rollicking Spaniards at all; and bj' the time that the caravel 
came from Jamaica they were ripe for rebellion. The captain of this vessel 
was taken into the confidence of the conspirators, and Ojeda thrown into 
irons on board of it. It was at first agreed that such as were tired of the en- 
terprise should return to Spain, leaving Ojeda the smallest of the vessels, 
with such as preferred to remain; but they finally changed their minds, and 
sailed to Hispaniola with the cavalier on board the caravel, heavily ironed. 

But before the vessel reached its destination, Ojeda determined to escape. 
His arms were free, and it was therefore with comparatively little difficulty 
that he managed to let himself down over the side of the vessel, having eluded 
the watch of guards who had grown somewhat careless. But while his arms 
were free, he had about his feet enough iron to have drawn him to the bottom, 
strong man and good swimmer as he was. After vainly endeavoring to gel 
to the shore, he was compelled to cry for help ; and was taken back on board 
the caravel and delivered as a prisoner into the hands of the authorities. 

Tried at St. Domingo for his misgovernment of the colony, he was deprived 
of all his effects and made a debtor to the Crown; but an appeal to the Royal 
Council brought about a reversal of this verdict, and an order that his prop- 
erty should be restored to him. 

It was necessary, however, to have a governor. Nicuesa, the governor of 
the province, was proposed by some; and he was actually brought to Darien 
by the advocates of this rule. But the others flatly refused to receive him. 
and there was nothing for him to do but to go back again. Fearful that he 
would not do this, the inhabitants of Darien seized him and seventeen of his 
companions, and placing them in a crazy bark, bade them hasten back to 
Hispaniola. 

What part Balboa had in these summary proceedings we do not know; but 
it is certain that a considerable number of the turbulent settlers looked upon 
him as their chief, and his party grew stronger and stronger. Enciso was 
thrown into prison, and finally sent back to Spain, along with the alcalde, 
who had been anally of Balboa, but had turned from him. This seems to 
have been the end of the party which favored some other ruler than Nunez, 




The Attkmptkd Escape. 



(266) 



BALBOA, THE DISCOVERER OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 267 

It was thus that he became the governor of the colony ; and he strengthened 
his authority by increasing the safety and convenience of those under him. 
He made many journeys into the surrounding country, securing the friendship 
of the neighboring caciques, and making a sort of treaty now with this tribe, 
and now with that, by which his followers could trade to advantage with the 
natives. 

But he was anxious to obtain the royal favor; and he knew that there was 
no surer path to it than the discovery of great mineral wealth in this New 
World. He learned that the province of Coyba was particularly rich; and 
dispatched seven of his men on a journey thither to spy out the land. The 
leader of this expedition was no other than Francisco Pizarro, afterwards 
famous as the conqueror of Peru. 

The situation of the colony is not laid down on any modern map, but it may 
easily be placed by means of the river Atrato, which empties into the Gulf of 
Darien, after flowing northward through the United States of Columbia. 
A short distance to the northwest is the Darien River, and at the mouth of 
this smaller sti'eam was the town. The province of Coyba, which probably 
took its name fi'om the cacique, is supposed to have been between the Atrato 
and the Darien, and might be readied by sea, or by ascending either river. 

Pizarro and his companions chose to ascend the smaller stream, following 
its course very closely, although they traveled by land. They had not gone 
far, however, when a host of savages rushed upon them from the thickets, 
uttering the savage yells which formed their war-cry, and assailing the white 
men with showers of arrows and stones. Pizarro ordered his men t': draw 
closer together; and at the word of command the seven mail-clad Spaniards 
rushed into the midst of the host of naked, yelling savages, and slashed right 
and left with their well-tempered swords. The Indians, unused to such 
weapons — for they had no iron — shrank before the assault, and such as were 
not slain or severely wounded fled. But although the victory had been thus 
won, the Spaniards were not sure of being able to hold their own another time ; 
this might be but the advance guard of a great army; and six of them pru- 
dently retreated. 

" Where is your comrade?" demanded Balboa, sternly, when they reported 
themselves; " there were six men under your command, Pizarro." 

They were .obliged to confess that they had retreated in such haste that 
they had left their wounded comrade on the field of battle; and the governor, 
shocked at the peril of one of their own race among the savages who had 
proved themselves so hostile, instantly ordei'cd them to return and bring the 
wounded man to the settlement. It was done; and the Spaniards learned 
anew the lesson that the governor whom they had chosen would guard their 
interests and protect them, even against each other. 

But he was not thus to be deterred from reaching Coyba, where wealth was 



2ti8 HALIJOA, THE UISCOVEIIKK OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 

to ho found in siuli :il)iinil;iiicc. He led an expedition himself after that 
small one uiiiler I'izuiro's eommand had failed, and the journey was made by 
sea. The territories of the cacique Ponea lay between the sea and those of 
Coyba; him Balhoa attacked, and defeated disastrously ; so that the Spaniards 
were enabled to carry away much booty with them. He then paid a friendly 
visit to Comagre, tlic chief of the adjoining province. 

Comagrc came out in state to receive him, escorted by seven of his sons, 
and foHowed by his principal warriors and a multitude of his people. The 
Spaniards were conducted to the village with much ceremony; dwellings were 
assigned them; provisions in plenty were brought to them; and men and 
women were appointed to attend upon them. 

The province, as they caik'd it, which formed the country over which this 
caciijuc ruled, was about twelve miles in area, and extended, as a beautiful 
phiin, from the foot of a lofty mountain almost to the sea. The huts of the 
)>ooplc were of the same general character as those with which they had pre- 
viously been familiar; but the dwelling of the cacique himself was larger and 
better finislied than any other native building that they had seen. 

The eldest son of the cacique, in common with his father, brothers, and 
others of the tribe, brought various presents to the strangers ; the remarkable 
thing about the gifts that he brought Avas that they were largely of gold — 
about four thousand ounces in all. Besides the ornaments of the precious 
metals which he bestowed upon his father's guests, he offered sixty slaves 
which he iiad taken in war. But tlu^ Spaniards evidently preferred the yellow 
ornaments to all other things brought to them. 

The young Indian watched them in wonder; for to him, there were many 
things nu)re valuable; he would readily have given much more gold than this 
tor one of the keen-edged swords which the Spaniards carried at their side; 
or for one of those wonderful tubes which spoke in thunder and lightning, 
and enemies died at the sight of the lightning; or even for a couple of those 
axes which cut wood so nuich more readily than the sharpest-edged piece of 
stone or copper which he possessed. And this strange desire for the yellow 
metal nuule even the governor forget his dignity, for he quarreled openly with 
his followers about the division of it. 

The Spaniards had brought scales with them, and were weighing out the 
2ohl for division when the cjuarrel took place. The young barbarian struck 
the scales with his list, so that the glittering ornaments were scattered around 
the rude apartment; and exclaimed: — 

"If this is what you prize so nmch that you leave your far-off homes, and 
even risk your lives for it, I can tell you of a land where they eat and drink 
out of golden vessels, and gold is as connuon as iron is with you."' 

Did a Spaniard of the time need more, to inflame his mind with the wildest 
dri'ams of riches untold? Balboa instantly turned from the treasure that 



UALIJOA, THE DISCOVERER OF THE PACU'lC OCEAN. 2(i'J 

now seemed so trifling, and listened eagerly to all that the young eliief had to 
say. All the information which he had had been derived from captives taken in 
war ; but it was most cheerfully rehearsed to the greedily listening white men. 

Balboa and his men at once returned to the settlement, and a messenger 
was dispatched to Don Diego Columbus, who was again high in authority on 
the island of Ilispaniola, apprising him of what had been learned. The 
members of the family of the great Admiral had now regained something of 
the influence which he ought to have possessed, but which had been lost to 
him in the last years of his life; and Balboa entreated Don Diego to use his 
influence with the King to obtain a force of a thousand men for the enterprise 
which promised so rich a reward. Fifteen thousand crowns in gold — equi- 
valent to about fifty thousand dollars of United States money at the present 
day — were sent as the share of the Crown of what had already been ob- 
tained. Having sent this appeal for assistance, with an earnest of what might 
be procured, Balboa prepared for the expedition by making a minute examina- 
tion of the surrounding country; during the course of which he secured many 
captives and much booty. 

But he does not seem to have retained the allegiance of his followers; few 
of the Spanish-American governors ever did. The adventurers who came to 
I his continent, especially at the first, were men who were both poor and 
proud; they could brook no authority but that of the King, and they had left 
their own country partly to bo free from the direct exercise of the royal 
power. Added to this, they were too proud and lazy to work, but expected 
to be made immensely wealthy in an exceedingly short time. They resented, 
then, any interference of the governor in their dealings with the natives; 
they looked upon the Indians as created especially to serve them ; and these 
savages certainly had uo rights which a white man, particularly a Castilian 
iiidalgo, was bound to respect. Added to all these qualities and opinions, 
they were fierce and quarrelsome among themselves. It is difiicult to imagine 
men whom it would be harder to govern, were the governor endowed with 
the wisdom of Solomon and the patience of Job. 

Balboa had neither; there is nothing to show that he was one whit better 
than his comrades, who had become his subordinates. He regarded the 
natives as heathen savages, whom a Christian soldier might rob with impunity, 
if only he were sure of getting off safely with his booty. When he made 
treaties with the various tribes near his town, it was because the Indians were 
too numerous and too widely allied to be extinguished; and friendly inter- 
course was more convenient than constant war. Vasco Nunez dc Balboa, in 
spite of his sounding titles, his glittering armor, his ronuintic history, was 
simply an unprincipled adventurer who did not pay his debts, who robbed all 
whom he safely could, and who did not hesitate to enslave the natives of the 
province which he was chosen, by the voice of his companions, to govern. 



270 KALBOA, THK DISCOVEKKK OK THE I'ACIFIC OCKAN. 

Such is his character, when divested of lli<' lialo wliicli the lapse of nearly 
four centuries has hung aliout it. 

With a governor of this kind, and people of this kind, it is small wonder 
that there were dissensions. Into the details of these dissensions wo need 
not enter; it is enough that his followers all but rebelled against iiis authority. 
In the very midst of the di.scontent, the vessels from San Domingo arrived. 
There was a rcinforcenK^nt of one hundred and fifty men, provisions for all, 
and a commission for the governor, signed by tiie royal treasurer of the island, 
appointing Don Vasco Nunez do Balboa Captain-General of tiie colony. T\u> 
seems to have been the first official recognition of thedignity to which Balboa 
had, by the suffrages of his companions, obtained, and from which, to judge 
by the accounts of their rebellious proceedings just before the arrival of the 
ships, he had been very nearly deposed. 

The number of men sent was of course much less than the number that he 
had asked for; but these came promptly from among those who were oa the 
island, while it would require three or four months to communicate his request 
to the King and receive an answer. Balboa determined to make tiie best of 
it, and while he was waiting for the larger force, to employ the smaller bod.\ 
of men in the propo.sed enterprise. Collecting all the followers that he could, 
he manned a brigantine and nine canoes, and set out. 

Reaching that part of the coast known as Coyba, he left half his force to 
guard these vessels, and with the other half proceeded to the mountains. 
We can scarcely realize the difficulty which they experienced in climbing 
these heights, under the burning heat of the ti'opical sun, with the vapors 
from the teeming soil rising thick ai'ound them, weighed down by their heavy 
armor and weapons, and scarcely able to force their way through the dense 
growth of the forests. But the Spaniards were in search of a gold-producing 
country, and could endure much; so they pressed the Indians into service, to 
carry their burdens, and to guide them through the wilderness. 

On arriving at the village of that chief whom they had attacked and defeated 
at the time of the previous expedition, they found that the Indians of this 
tribe had fled to the mountains. Their retreat was soon discovered, however: 
and Balboa made friends with the cacique to such an extent that the Indian 
told him all that he knew of the riches of the surrounding country. He con- 
fidcntl}' assured him that there was a great sea beyond the mountains, and 
gave him many golden ornaments brought from the countries on its borders. 
He assured the stianger that when he had reached the summit of a lofty 
ridge, which he pointed out, he would see this great body of water far 
below him. 

Many of the Indians who had served as guides and bearers were completely 
worn out by the fatigues which they had endured, and it was necessary to find 
(Others to take tlicir places. These were furnisliefl l\v the cacique, who seem.-' 



liALHlJA, TIIK DISCOVERER OF THE I'ACIKU; CX'EAN. 271 

to have been anxious to get the white nicu away from Iiis people at any cost. 
The eountiy was rocky, the forests matted with heavy vines; anil there were 
many streams which they could cross only by means of rafts. 

At the end of four days' journey, they reached the territory of a cacique 
named Quaraqua, who was at war with the iirst who had proved so friendly. 
With a large force of warriors, he attacked the Spaniard with great fury, ex- 
pecting to turn them back from his dominions by this single battle. He had 
reckoned without his host, however; he knew nothing of the effect of fire- 
arms; and the discharge of their few guns produced the usual effect upon the 
savages. As they scattered and fled in terror, the Spaniards pursued them, 
unloosing the huge blood-hounds that accompanied them, and cheering these 
dreadful beasts on after their human game. Quaraqua aud six hundred of 
his warrioi's were slain, and very uuiny taken prisoners. 

But, although the ascent of the mountain, from the summit of which they 
were to behold this wonderful sea, was right before them, the Spaiiiards were 
too exhausted by the battle to push on that night. One who has read anj'- 
thing of their countrymen in the New World cannot but suspect, however, 
that they would not have been so tired out had they not found a considerable 
quantity of gold and jewels in the village of the dead cacique. To divide this 
booty so that each would get his due share, was a work of some difficulty, re- 
quiring time ; and each one was afraid to start off before the division had been 
made, lest he should not receive all that was his due. 

The morning dawned. It was the 2r)th of September, 1,513. They began 
their wearisome march up the side of the mountain early, though with dimin- 
ished numbers; for but sixty-seven of the original force had seemed equal 
to the exertion that would be required. By ten o'clock, oidy the last stretch 
in the ascent remained; and bidding his men remain where they were, Balboa 
pressed forward and upward, alone. 

Never did a grander prospect meet the eye of man ; from the rocky coast, 
where the mountains stretched to either side far as the eye could see, extended 
that vast sweep of ocean, bounded only by the sky. To what distant shore it 
I'eached, who could say? Did the discoverer dream that between him and 
the nearest point of the continent to he reached by sailing across that ocean, 
there lay nearly one-half the circumference of the globe? 

In accordance with that beautiful custom of these ancient discovei'ers — 
beautiful, no nuitter how their other actions may have taught us to question 
the worth of their devotion — Ballioa fell upon his knees, and returned thanks' 
to God for having permitted him to make a discovery so benetieial to his 
country and so honorable to himself. His followers, eagerly watching his 
actions from below, could no longer restrain themselves, but rushed upward 
to the suunnit of the mountain, and joined in his thanksgivings. 

Thus encouraged by the sight of the sea across which they were to sail to 



-i'2 li.M.iiDA. •iiiK i)i>(()\i;iir.ii oi' rmo i-Aciric ockan. 

tlio land of houiullcss wcaltli, tlio adviMituicrs, Balboa at tht- head, hastened 
down tlic western slope of the mountain, antl reached the coast of the Pacific. 
With the greatest enthusiasm Balboa pressed forward into the water; 
anil holding aloft his sword, while his left hand bore the standard, as 




Hai.ISOa |)IS(0\ i;kv iMi; i'scii'ii (Iikan. 

if he were all ready for the combat, claimed theoceau,audall that it contained, 
for the sovereign of Castile; and declared that he would make good that claim 
against any that should dare to dispute it, be he Christian or Iiilidel. It was 
a splendid vaunt; but Balboa, though he did not know the extent of this ocean, 
though he did not dream of the vast area he was claiming, doubtless meant 
every word that he said; he would, indeed, have defended this claim with his 



BALBOA, TIIK DISCOVIOUHK OF TIIK I'ACIKU! OCEAN. 273 

life, for these old Spaniards, wliatever their faults, were not lacking in cour- 
age. 

The point from which he beheld the Pacific for the first time is a little east 
of Panama; the trend of the coast there is from east to west, so that the 
ocean seemed to stretch far away to the south. Because of this, and because 
he did not realize that he stood on a narrow neckof land connecting two con- 
tinents, he named this the South Sea — a name which it long retained, partic- 
ularly in connection with the islands of Australasia. 

He explored the coast for some tlistance, being well reccivedby the caciques 
of various tribes, who had probably heard, from other Indians, of the white 
men who had come from across the eastern ocean. He extorted provisions 
and gold from some of these by force; others brought their tribute voluntar- 
ily; and he learned from the reports of all, with much satisfaction, that the 
pearl oyster abounded in the newly-found sea. 

But this was not all. He questioned them regarding that wonderfully rich 
country of which ho had before heard, and in search of which ho had found 
the Pacific Ocean. They all agreed in the information that such a country 
lay at aconsiderable distance toward the southeast; and some of them added 
that the inhabitants used as a beast of burden a certain animal which they 
had tamed for the purpose. An Indian artist attempted to draw the figure of 
a llama, which the Peruvians had actually taught to perform such services as 
the horse and ox render us; but either his art was at fault, or the imagination 
of the Spaniards was too lively; they mistook it for a camel, and at once 
concluded that they were on the direct route to the most wealthy regions of 
India. 

But impatient as he was to find this long-sought country, which always lay 
just before the feet of Columbus, Balboa realized that it would be the height 
of folly for him to attempt the journey with his handful of men, worn out 
by fatigue and the diseases which are so apt to beset Europeans in that ener- 
vating climate. He determined to return to the settlement, and, the follow- 
ing season, to come here again with a fresher force, better prepared for the 
enterprise. In order to acquire a better knowledge of the isthmus, he chose 
for his return a route entirely different from that by which he had advanced ; 
but it was fully as difficult and dangerous as the other. The adventurers, 
however, were elated with their success; and the homeward journey was per- 
formed in much less time than the outward one had required. They reached 
Santa Maria, after an absence of four months, " with much more honor and 
treasure," says the old chronicle, "than the Spaniards had previously ac- 
quired." 

Balboa's first duty was of course to report the consequences of his expedi- 
tion to the King. It may be imagined with what satisfaction he did this, 
when we read that, " the first account of the discovery of the New World 
IS 



274 HAI.HOA, TIIK niSCOVEKKK OK Till: 1>A< HIT OCKAN. 

hardl}' oocMsioncd grt-atcr joy than the uiu-xin'i'ted tidinirs that a passage was 
at last fduiul to tlio great Southern Ocean." The Spanish autliorities imag- 
ined that tliey ha<l now acquired every advantage for which they had hoped 
for so long; Portugal, as wo have seen, had l)een given all the unsettled ter- 
ritories east of a certain longitude; Spain, all that lay to the west. But this 
barred Spain from using that path to the Indies, .shorter and safer than any 
known of old,,wllich^'asco da GaiiKuliscovered when he rounded the Cape of 
Good Hope. "What Spain had been wishing for, ever since the tirst voyage of 
Columbus, was to find a passage to India across the western ocean, and thus 
be enabled to share in the trade of these oi)ulent countries of the far east. 

"Wiiat the Spaniards did not know, was that to the south and the north of 
the isthmus lay a continent; thatthe southern one could only be circumnavi- 
gated by a longand dangerous voyage, and that the northern one stretched so 
close to the pole that it was practically impossible to find a passage aroundit 
to the Pacific; that the crossingof the isthnms would bo a matter of difficulty 
for more than two hundrt^d and fifty years, and thatthe close of the nine- 
teenth century would scarcely see a ship-canal cut across it. 

Jubilant in his ignorance, Ferdinand of Arragon was willing to grant all 
that Balboa asked as preparation for an expedition to this golden land. It 
was reported that in that country men had only to throw their nets in the sea 
and they would draw up gold; and it was necessary to restrain the numbers 
who would have flocked to the standard of the leader on such an enterprise ; 
and to limit to fifteen hundred the force which, it had originally been de- 
termined, should consist of twelve hundred men. 

Who was to be the leader in this exix'dit ion? "Who could it be but Balboa? 
In common justice, the man who had discovered the path should be allowed 
to follow it, at the head of those who would seek the golden country; but 
Ferdinand and Fonseca were not bound by common justice. Fonscca was 
bitterly opposed to anj' man who distinguished himself in the New World; 
Ferdinand was always ready to reduce too ambitious a subject to the common 
level by subjecting hiin to disappointment and mortification. No notice was 
taken of Balboa; but Don Pedro Arias de Avila was appointed Governor of 
the Colony of Darien, and leader of the expedition whicii had been fitted 
out. 

Fifteen A'essels, fitted out with a liberality which Ferdinand had never be- 
fore displayed in ecjuipping any armament for the Nt'W "World, conveyed the 
new governor to the scene of his authority. Immediately upon his arrival, 
Avila sent some of his principal officers ashore to inform lialboa of his 
arrival. 

They found the discoverer wearing a dress very different from that which 
they had expected to see; they had supposed that tiie Governor of Darien. 
who had discovered this rich country, would be habited as became a knight 



BALBOA, THE DISCOVERER OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 275 

and noble of high station and great wealth. The meanest peasant could 
scarcely tind a coarser gai'bthan his canvas jacket and hempen sandals; and 
he was busily engaged in helping some Indians thatch his own hut with 
reeds. 

We may imagine that the officers were somewhat reluctant to deliver their 
message to a man so clotlied and so employed; but when once it had been de- 
livered, they perceived from the bearing of Balboa that he was indeed the 
gentleman, in manners as well as in birth, and fitted to receive an envoy from 
the delegate of a king. 

So many adventurers had been attracted to his standard by the news of his 
success, that Balboa now found himself at the head of a body of four hundred 
and fifty men ; and when it is considered that these were all veterans in the 
service of the New World, while the newcomers were unused to its hardships 
and dangers, we may see the truth in the historian's statement that his force 
was fully a match for Avila's. 

These men murmured loudly at the injustice of the King in superseding 
their governor, and sending an untried nuin to lead the expedition which was 
so sure to confer honor and riches on its chief; but Balboa repressed these 
complaints as far as possible, and received Avila with all the deference that 
was due to the office which he held. 

Avila repaid this generous moderation by ordering an immediate judicial 
inquiry into Balboa's conduct, as governor of the colony, and imposed a 
considerable fine upon him when this inquiry revealed that he was, according 
to Avila's ideas, guilty of some irregularities. Of course, Balboa was not 
now disposed to submit as unquestionably to Avila as he had been at first; 
heconsidei'ed that the courtesy with which he had received the new governor 
should have met with some requital; and he did not relish being tried as an 
offender where he had once been judge. Soon two parties were formed; one, 
of those who had come out with Avila; and the other, of the old inhabitants 
of the colony and those adventurers who had been attracted to it by the fame 
of Balboa. 

The dissensions were not decreased by the common misfortunes which they 
were soon called ujjon to endure. A terrible plague, according to the old 
writers, raged among them; what was the nature of this epidemic, modern 
science cannot judge from the accounts that remain; provisions began to 
grow scarce; and, in the space of one month, six hundred persons perished 
from the pestilence and the famine. Many of those who had come out to 
find wealth, seeing that they were more likely to find a grave, asked to be 
allowed to return to Spain, and a deep despair seemed to brood over all. 

la order to avert a general collapse of the expedition which had been fitted 
out at such expense, Avila sent several small parties out to explore the sur- 
rounding country, and levy what gold they could from the Indians. These 



276 llAJ.IiOA, TlIK DISCJOVKKKK OK TliK I'ACllMC OCEAN. 

part ics proved crui-l and rapacious, as far as (he natives were concerned ; and 
plundered without distinction wherever tiiey marched. 

Balboa had made treaties with several of the neighboriny caciques, in order 
to assure the safety of the colony; but these were utterly ignored by (he new- 
comers. Regardless of every consideration, they ravaged the country from 
the Gulf of I)ai-ien to Lake Nicaragua; and, 1)y this desolation of their terri- 
tory, made bitter enemies of the natives who wore able to escape their 
swords. 

Balboa saw with much concern the violation of the treaties which he had 
taken much pains to make, in the hope that they would make it much easier 
for him to exidorc the golden shores of the South Sea; and sent some very 
earnest remonstrances home to Spain. The same vessel which bore this ac- 
count of the ruin of .1 prosperous colony, bore also Avila's complaint that 
Balboa had deceived the King by magnifying his own exploits and by falsely 
representing the riches of the country. 

But Ferdinand preferred to believe Balboa, because Balboa promised more 
gold than Avila did; andl)y way of making some redress of the injury inflicted 
by appointing a stranger to the command so well eartied, appointed the for- 
mer Governor of DarienAdelantado of the Countries on the South Sea; grant- 
ing very extensive privileges with the title. At the same time that tliis 
commission was issued, he sent instructions to Avila tosuppoi-t Ballxja in all 
his operations, and to consult with him regarding eveiy measure which he 
himself proposed to undertake. 

But Avila was four thousand miles away from Spain, and the royal mandate 
failed to make him any more friendly to Balboa. He did not do anything 
which could be directly reported to the King; he simply let Ballxia alone; 
and as the latter had exhausted his stock of monciy in paying the tine and 
other exactions of Avila, he could not make suitable preparations for taking 
possession of his new government. 

Finally, however, the Bishop of Darien — for by this time there were sev- 
eral bishops of the New World — made peace between the two; and a mar- 
riage was arranged between Balboa and one of the daughters of Avila. For 
a while, everything seeiued to go on smoothly; Ballioa made several expedi- 
tions into the surrounding country, where he was able to undo much of the 
mischief that had been done by the recent raids. Many adventurers now 
flocked to his standard again, and with the aid of Avila he began to prepare 
for his expedition to the South Sea. 

For this i)ur[)osc it was necessary to build the vessels which would be needed 
for the transportation of his men; and with almost intinite difficulty the ob- 
stacles in the way were surmounted, and four brigantines launched upon the 
Pacific. Three hundred men had been chosen from among those who were 
anxious to accompany Jiini, and he was all ready to sail for Peru. 



BALliOA, THE DISCOVERER OK T}IE PACIFIC OCEAN. 277 

But, although Avila had seemed to yiehl so completely, and to ally himself so 
closely with Balboa, there was nothing that could efface his old hatred and 
jealousy of the man. He feared that if Ball)oa succeeded, evil would come 
to him; for he knew that he had deeply injured his son-in-law, and he could 
not understand how any one should forgive or forget such injuries. 

He accordingly sent him a message, which sounded very friendly, asking 
him to postpone his voyage for a little while, and come to Atla, as he partic- 
ularly wished to see him about something of importance. Balboa, thinking 
no evil, went; but, as soon as he entered the place, was arrested by order of 
Avila. 

Judges were immediately appointed, and the trial began. Balboa was ac- 
cused of disloyalty to the King, and of an intention to revolt against the au- 
thority of Avila. There seems to have been no foundation for these charges, 
except Avila"s jealous fears that, should Balboa succeed in establishing his 
governmonton the shores of the South Sea, he might aim at independence of 
the Governor of Darien. 

When the judges were appointed by a man like Avila, who entertained 
such deep hatred for the accused, there could be small doubt as to the re- 
sult of the trial. Balboa was found guilty, and sentence of death was pro- 
nounced. Yet so strong was the evidence of his innocence that the very 
judges who found him guilty warmly interceded for his j^ardon ; it is probalilc 
that his offense, whatever it was, consisted niei-ely of some hasty, impatient 
expression, which was not really meant by him, and the judges who could not 
disregard it entirely saw that it had only been brought forward by personal 
hatred. 

But the petition for pardon was made to Avila, who had determined upon 
his death before the trial had begun; and although the judges were seconded 
by the whole colony, he was not to be moved from his purpose, and Balboa 
was publicly executed. With him died the expedition which he was to have 
led. 

Notwithstanding this flagrant violation of his oiBce, Avila not only escaped 
punishment, but, through the influence of Fonseca, was continued in full 
power. He soon afterward obtained permission to remove the colony from 
Santa Maria to Panama on the opposite side of the isthmus; the reason al- 
leged being the superior healthfulness of the western coast. There was not 
much gained in this respect; but the fact that the settlement was located on 
the western shore gave the Spaniards some advantages in future expeditions. 

And thus ends the story of Don Vasco Nunez de Balboa, the discoverer of 
the Pacific Ocean, and of his deadly enemy, Don Pedro Arias de Avila. 




CHAPTER IX. 

MAGEI.LAA', THE DISCOVP^REK OK THE SOUTH PACTFIC. 

A Royal Page — Portuguese Mariners — jVlbuquerque the Great — Royal Ingratitude — Mag- 
ellan goes to Spain — Westward to India — Reaches South America — The Giant Patagonians — 
Traveler's Tales — Conspiracy against Magellan — Punishment of the Plotters — The Straits of 
Magellan — Entering the Pacific — Terrible Privations — The Unfortunate Islands — The Island.s 
of Thieves — Retaliation — Frightened into Friendliness — Trading for Gold — Missionary Work 
— In Portuguese Waters — Conversion of Islanders — Persecuting the Heathen — The Spaniards 
Demand Tribute — The Natives Resist — Poisoned Arrows— Magellan Mortally Wounded — A 
Determined Enemy — Flight of the Spaniards — At Borneo — Attacked — -Return to Phillipine 
Islands — To the Moluccas — Doubling the Cape — Starvation — The First Circumuavigatiou Ac- 
complished. 

URING the hitler half of the lifteenth century, there lived a noble 
. . family named IMagelhaes, at Villa de Sabroza, about the center 
L^V of that |)art of Portugal which lies north of the Douro River. 
Here lliere was horn, about the year 1470, a son who was christened 
Fernao; but whose name has been changed into that which is more fami- 
liar to our ears, Ferdinand Magelian. 

He seems to have spent his boyhood as a page in the tram of Queen 
Leonora, the wife of that King John of Portugal, who served Columbus 
such a shabby trick. The position of i)age in those days was equivalent 
to going to boarding-school now; for the nobleman in whose household 
these boys of other nobles were placed, was e\j)ectcd to provide them 
with such instruction as was necessary for the education of a gentleman ; 
they were taught something of the history of their own country, perhaps 
of others; they learned a little Latin, enough to enable them to under- 
stand the Church services; they may have been taught to read and write; 
j)robably at the time of young Magellan they did receive such instruction; 
and they had plenty of teaching and exercise in those manly arts which 
were practiced by all but the peasants whose labor left them no time for 
recreation. 

In this account of the life of pages in medieval times, it must be re- 
membered that the educating of these youths was not undertaken from 
any disinterested motive. There was quite a rivalry among those ot 
similar rank as to the size of their respective households; ami it was 
usual for the boy's father to pay a fee to the noble who took him under 
his protection. Thus, we see these great households of counts and barons 
were like the modern hoarding-schools in more than one particular. 

There was but one direction in which Portuguese youths of the end of the 
(278) 



MAOKLLAN, 'I'lIK DISCOVEREK OK TIIK SorTIl PACIFIC. 279 

fifteenth aiui beginning!; of tlio sixteenth ecntiiri(!s desired advancement; the 
whole nation was mad about the sea and the exploration of its coasts. The 
discovery of a route to the Indies, as it was thf)ught, by a mariner in the 
service of Spain, had awakened national jealousy anew; and Portugal was 
more than ever determined to prosecute her explorations of the African 
coast, and to find a way to the Indies by the Cape of Good Hope. This had 
not yet been accomplished by the time that young Magellan was seeking to 
engage in active life; but we have no record of any part that he took in tlic 
various expeditions which preceded and followed that led by Vasco da Gama. 




Fkrdin.vnd Magellan. 

In 1503, Alphonso de An)uquerque, afterward suruamed the Great, was 
commissioned Viceroy of the Indies; and doubtless by the influence of his 
royal patroness, Magellan, now in the very prime of life, was named as one 



•2m 



.MA(li;i,l,AN, 'IIIK 1>IS('()\ KliKi; Ol' 'IIIK .SolTII rAClIlC. 



of those wlio wore to accompany' him to liis vicorojalty. Gou was conquoicd, 
and made the scat of govcrniiu'iit; and before long, the authority of theKing 
of Portugal was enforced from the Sunchi Islands to the Persian Gulf. It is 
related that the Sliah of Persia, learning of the approach of the strangers, 
scut a niessengeito demand tribute from their master, the King of Portugal. 




, i.i .{1 r.nm !•; SiiNiis 'runtriK hi im 

Albuquerque returned answer that he would send the ie(iuir((l tribute, of such 
nature as the King of Portugal was accustomed to pay; and he theroupon 
sent a quantity of cannon-balls, shells, and swords, as tlie only coin in wliich 
he would render such homage. 



\ 



MACJKLLAN, THE D18COVKREK OE THE SOUTH PACIFIC. 281 

Sue li was the man under whom Magellan served his apprenticeship; nor 
could he have found one who was better calculated to train him for what he 
was to do. While Albuquerque maintained a strict militai'y discipline among 
his followers, he was wise, humane, and just in his dealings with them; he 
made his country's name profoundly respected in the east; and many poten- 
tates, when they saw how he reduced others to submission, voluntarily sought 
the protection and alliance of Portugal. Long after he was dead, the sub- 
jects of his successors were accustomed to resort to his grave, there to pray 
for his protection against the tyranny to which they were subjected. Only a 
truly great man could rule the turbulent adventurers of that time; but 
Albuquei'(iue did his work thoroughly. 

But the great man did not reap the just reward of his services. The envy 
of courtiers caused himtobesupersededbyKingJohn's successor, Emmanuel; 
and a personal enemy was appointed to his office of viceroy. It was in vain 
that the Persian ruler tempted him, by offers of higli military position, to re- 
bel against the ingratitude of his sovereign; he accepted the decision calmly, 
and made ready to I'eturn to Portugal. But he was deeply affected by the 
disgrace which he had undeservedly suffered, and died at sea on the way 
home. 

This was in 1515. The King appeared heartily to regret what he had done, 
and heaped honors upon the son of the dead viceroy. Magellan had earned 
distinction in the Indies, and thought that, since the King was rewarding Al- 
buquerque's services thus tardily, his own might meet with some recompense. 
But he did not meet with the recognition which he expected; and, in company 
with Ruy Falero, who had earned some reputation as ageographer and astrono- 
mer, he determined to follow the example of Columbus, and seek at the court 
of Spain that opportunity for enterprise which was denied him in Portugal. 

Charles v., the great Emperor, the grandson of Ferdinand and Isabella, 
was then King of Spain, as well as monarch of Austria; one crown being his 
by right of his mother, while he was ruler of Austria by inheritance from his 
father, and Emperor by election. Before him the two adventurers laid the 
project which had been ignored at the court of Portugal. 

This was nothing else than a scheme for reaching the Moluccas by sailing 
to the west; substantially the same as the original idea of Columbus, but now 
shown to be fraught with much more danger and difficulty than he, supposing 
the globe to be so much smaller and Asia to be so much larger than is actually 
the case, had thought must be dared in attempting to reach the east by way of 
theM'est. It was now clearly understood that Columbus had not reached India, 
but had discovered a new continent; and it was seen with equal clearness by 
these two adventurers, that his original intention might yet be carried out. 

The Pope had fixed a hmit beyond which the Portuguese might not venture, 
and east of which the Spaniards dared not pause. The latter nation, 1 hen, 



282 MAOKLLAN, THE DISCOVERER OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC. 

could not follow in the track of the Portuguese, but it could strike out yet 
farther in the path which (Jolumbus had marked out; and, although reaching 
the cast by this route, they might trespass on Portuguese territory, yet there 
was no tixcd boundary on that side at which tiiey must cease to explore, and 
they might assert their right as fully equal to that of Portugal. 

The Emperor heard tlio project with favor; and was easily convinced that 
whatever the Portuguese might have conquered and settled, they had no 
shallow of claim to the Molucca and lianda Islands, famous for their .spices. 
He granted their petition, and tive ships were fitted out for the expedition. 
Their crews numbered two hundred and thirty-seven men, and Magellan was 
duly connnissinned admiral of the squadron. 

August 10, 1519, they left Seville, arriving at Teneriffe Sept. 2ti. From this 
point they kei)t close to the shore of Africa, until they reached the northeas- 
tern part of the Gulf of Guinea: and here, for seventy days, the vessel lay, 
"As idle as a painted sliip 
Upon a painted ocean ;" 

waiting for a favorable wind to break the dead calm and waft them across the 
line. Here, the old chronicler notes as if it were indeed a remarkable thing, 
instead of being a necessary accompaniment of their being south of the 
equator, they lost sight of the North Star. Guided by those stars which the 
voyages of recent travelers had made only partially known to them, they con- 
tinued to coast for some distance along the western shore of the Dark Conti- 
nent, until the direction of the wind and the apparent current in the ocean 
made it practicable for them to attempt the crossing of the Atlantic. 

The southeast trade-winds and the South Equatorial current combined to 
give them a safe and easy passage to the coast of Brazil; which they reached 
at a point near the site of the present city of Pernandjuco; from there they 
continued in a southerly direction, along the coast, not landing until they 
reached a point a little south of Kio Janeiro. This land was iidiabited by 
cannibals, declared the accounts given of the voyage; but the Spaniards were 
not swift of foot enough to catch them. One of them, who was plainly de- 
scried from the ships, had "the stature of a giant and the voice of a bull," 
but even this Goliath dared not face the white strangers. 

In this country they found a large fresh water river, the mouth of which 
was seventeen leagues across, dotted with seven islands. It is difticult to say 
what stream is here described, as they were much too far north for the Kio 
de la Plata; but they asserted that on one of these islands tiny liad found 
precious stones, and their statements were not questioned. 

We need not stop with them at another island where they discovered such 
plenty of seals and penguins, enough to have tilled the tive shijjs, had they 
have been minded to devote a day or so to the sport of killing them; per- 
haps, had the seal fisheries been then a subject for the negotiations of states- 



MAGELLAN, THE DISCOVEKER OF THE .SOUTH PACIIIC 



'2Ki 



nicu, they might have thought it worth tiicir whih^ lo improve this opportu- 
nity of securing such a quantity of skins. 

They spent two months on thecoastof Patagonia in latitude 41) 1-2 degrees. 
Here, says the ancient account, they saw no human creature except a giant, 
who came to the haven dancing, singing, and throwing dust over his head. 
Magellan at once sent one of his men ashore to coax the giant to the island 
where he had landed. The sailor nuide signs of peace, which seemed to be 
understood and answered by the savage. The giant needed no persuasion to 
enterthe boat and go to the island, where he made gestures indicating his be- 
lief that the white strangers 
had come from heaven. Such 
was the belief among all the 
native tribes, regarding these 
tirst explorei's and settlers of 
their continent; bitter experi- 
ence taught them that the ac- 
tions of the strangers were far 
fi-om beingdirectedby heaven. 

*' He was so very tall, that 
the head of a middling-sized 
man reached only to his waist; 
he was corpulent and well-pro- 
portioned ; his visage was large, 
and painted with different col- 
ors, principally with yellow; 
there were red circles about his 
eyes, and somethinglike a heart 
was figured on each cheek ; his 
hair was colored white, and his 
apparel was the skin of some 
beast laced together, the head 
of which appeared to have 
been very large; it had ears 
likea mule, a body likea camel, 
and the tail of a horse; the 
skin of it was wrapped about 
his feet in the manner of shoes ; 
in his hand was a short thick 
bow, and a bundle of arrows, 
made of reeds and pointed with 
sharp stones, and feathered as 
ours generally are 




1 111 si\ \( js' til sr 1 oiik iM<i 1 Mil 1 oi 
The Admiral made lum eat and dunk, attci \\hithhe 



2«t MAGELLAN, THE DISCOVEHER OK THE SOITII I'AC II H . 

presented him with hawks' bells, a comb, some glass beads, and otlier tiiflinn: 
things; but particularly a looking-glass, in whicdi he had no sooner perceived 
his own horrid appearance, than he started back, as if affrighted, with sucli 
violence that he threw down a woman standing near him."' 

Another account, e<pially to be believed, says that his start backward at 
beholding himself in the minor was so violent and unexpected that he 
knocked down two men ; but such little differences as these are not to be re- 
garded in these old chronicles of voyages to strange lands. The passage just 
quoted is in a work which is entitled "A Compendium of Authentic andEn- 
tertaining Voyages." The present writer suspects fhat some of these are 
authentic and some are entertaining; and that this account of the giant belongs 
to the second of these two classes. 

Not content with the account of one giant, the chroniclers go on to narrate 
that the next day a man of still greater stature came to visit the white men; 
being, like most giants, good-natured and pleasant in disposition. He amused 
them much with his singing and dancing, and remained among them for some 
time.' The sailors gave him the name of John; and some of the more de- 
vout among them taught him to pronounce the words Jesus and Ave Maria. 
The Admiral made him a present of various articles of clothing and some of 
the trifles which were always so pleasing to the savages; and he in return 
brought one of the skins which he anr' the former visitor wore in place of 
other clothing. 

This giant mysteriously disappeared, :. tter bringing the skin; and the sail- 
ors came to the conclusion that his countrymen had made way with liim be- 
cause of the friendship which he had showed the new-comers. But if this 
were the ca.se, his fate did not deter others from coming to visit the vessels; 
four others came some two weeks later, having hid their bows and arrows in 
the bushes. The sailors resolved to take them on board if possible, and for 
that purpose, after the savages had been presented with beads, bells, and 
similar trifles, iron shackles were put around their legs, as if for ornaments. 
As in the case of the island cacique whose story has already been told, the 
two Indians prof essed great delight with the shining. bands of metal; and it 
was not until they were ready to leave the \essels that the trick was discov- 
ered by them. 

" The two others would have assisted them in their burdens, l)ut were pre- 
vented; when they found their legs fast, they began to suspect some deceit, 
roared as loud as bulls, and implored the assistance of the great devil Sete- 
bos. They were put onboard of different ships; it was impossible to seize 
upon the other two; one of them was with much difficulty borne down by nine 
of the sailors, and his hands bound, but he soon burst the restriction, started 
up and fled; nor was his companion far behind him; they were jjursued, and 
one of Magellan's men was wounded by one of their arrows." 



iMA(;i;i,I,AN, THE DISCOVKHKK Ol' TIIK SOUTH I'ACIFK'. 



285 



The writer docs not intend to inflict any more giants, for the present at 
least, upon the patience of the reader. The above is merely given to show the 
foundation for the belief that prevailed for many years, that the Indians of 
the most southern part of South America were of gigantic size ; and that the 
expression " Of Patagonian stature" meant far more than the average 
height . 




Magellan Pi-nisres Mutiny. 
We have seen by the description of their costume that their feet were cov- 
ered with skins; this, of course, was clumsily done, so that the shapeliness 
of the foot was not apparent. Magellan called these people, then, Patagon- 
ians, from the Portuguese wordpf?/ffi, which means a hoof or paw. 



28(') .M.\(iEl,I,AN. TI{K DISCOVKKKK HI' TllK SOITII l'.\( II II . 

Duriiig the two iiioiiths that tliey spent hvvv, tlic travch'is iiuulc iiiauy ob- 
servations regarding the customs of these i)eoi)le ; l)ut wc cannot be sure that 
these are not exaggerated, like their accounts of the size of the warriors. 
Among other things, they said that the Patagonian cure for headache is a cut 
across the forehead, causing an emission of Wood; and pains in the other 
members are supposed to be cured by similar means. However prevalent 
disease may have been among them at times, there was nothing the matter 
with the appetites of those who visited Magellan ; for it is recorded that one 
of theiu would eat a basket of ship-biscuit at a meal, and drink a bucket 
of water at a draught. 

We now returnto more serious things than the dcstripl ions which thetrav- 
elers gave of the strange lands and peoples which they had seen. While the 
ships were thus laid up for the winter, the men became discontented and 
homesick. They petitioned the commander to return to Spain; but this he 
sternly refused to do. As the weeks went on, some of the most discon- 
tented neglected their duties; and, without any thought of what they had 
asked of him. the Admiral sentenced them to the punishments which he con- 
sidered were fitting. Whether or not these punishments were excessive, it 
is impossilde now to determine; probably they were not, according to the 
ideas of the time; but Magellan appeared the cruel tyrant to those who were 
so anxious to return to Spain, and who had suffered the result of their own 
neglect of duty. They talked the matter over with each other, and their sense 
of oppression grew stronger and stronger. Gradually, others were called up- 
on to symi)athize with them ; and at last a plan was developed, to take posses- 
sion of the ships, put the Admiral to death, imprison or kill such of the 
superior officers as refused to acknowledge the authority of the mutineers, 
and return to Spain with some story of the loss of their leader at sea. 

Luis de Mendoza was the leader in this conspiracy, and the plotters were 
abetted by the counsels of Juan deCarthagena, a priest who had accompanied 
the expedition that they might not be without spiritual advantages in their 
roamings. 

Fortunately for the Admiral, the plot was disclosed in time to prevent its 
execution ; a hasty trial of the mutineers was held, and Mendoza and some of 
his accomplices found guilty. According to the barbarous customs of the 
day, they were sentenced to be hanged, drawn andcpiartered; and the revolt- 
ing sentence was fully carried out. The priest was beyond their power; for 
Ithey were too good Catholics to harm one who had devoted his life to the 
Church; so they contented themselves with putting him in the stocl^, an in- 
strument made of two pieces of wood placed one upon the other and pierced 
with holes, in which were placed the legs of the sailor who was to be punished. 
The other captains remonstrated loudly with Magellan against a punishment 
which was too degrading for a superior officer, and Carthagena in con- 



MAGELLAN, THE DISCOVERER OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC. 287 

sequence was simply put under arrest, and guarded by one of the captains. 
There were also some minor accomiDlices, who were less guilty than Mendozu, 
but still deserving of punishment; to have retained these on board after a 
period of imprisonment was to invite another mutiny; Magellan therefore 
determined that the remaining mutineers should be put on shore, and left to 
the mercy of the Patagoniaus. This was done ; and the ships sailed away from 
the coast, never again to return. 

Magellan, fully resolved to die, or to bring the enterprise he commanded to 
a successful issue, told his crew, when this had been aecomi^lished, that the 
Emperor had assigned him the course which the voyage was to take, and he 
neither could nor would depart from it under any pretext. As to provisions, 
if they found them insufficient, his men might add to their rations the pro- 
duce of their fishing or hunting. Magellan thought that so firm a declaration 
would impose silence on the malcontents, and that he would hear no more of 
^Drivations, from which he suffered equally with his crews. 

They had now been gone from Spain about a year ; and the season was more 
promising for exploration in a more southern latitude; the long and cold 
winter was drawing to a close, and they decidedto coast southwai-d until com- 
pelled to stop by the cold, or until they arrived — and this is what they really 
expected — at some point where the ships could enter the South Sea from the 
Atlantic. 

Having reached a point about fifty-two degrees south of the equator, they 
were obliged to lay up for a time ; for in this far southern latitude, winter was 
not ended in September. Putting into port, they remained for two months 
longer; improving their time by securing an ample supply of fish, fuel, and 
fresh water. 

Thus provided, they continued their journe.y; but now, although there was 
no sign of any considerable river here emptying into the sea, they saw land 
on both sides of their vessels ; sometimes not moi-e than a mile on cither hand. 
The direction of the coast, too, was different; hitherto, the general trend had 
been southward; now, it was decidedly toward the west. They were in the 
straits which are now called by Magellan's name. 

November 28, 1520, they emerged from among the islands with which the 
entrance to the straits are encumbered, and broad and blue and peaceful, saw 
before them the waters of the great ocean which Balboa had named the South 
Sea.- To Magellan, tempest-tossed through all that weary winter, it seemed 
the very picture of a summer sea; and he named it, accordingly, the Pacific 
Ocean. *To the point of land whence he first descried it he gave the name of 
Cape Desire. 

They were now about to enter upon the part of their voyage which excited 
the most fears among the undetermined; for these waters were to them 
wholly unknown. No one had yet accomplished the intention of Columbus, 



288 



MAdia.LAX, THE DISCOVERER OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC 



and reached India by way of the west; and how wide were the waters whieli 
now stretched before them, no man knew. Before venturing upon this un- 
known sea, they must at least try to direct the course of that vessel which 
had been separated from the others; the y'San Antonio, when she passed 
tlirough the straits, would surely come to this point; and her men could 
easily descry the great cross which they erected upon the neigliboring hill for 
her guidance. So reasoned Magellan and his followers; not dreaming thai 
the San Antonio had stolen away from them, and gone back to Spain. 




^■l,.-^.■,l,L.s IS iiu; ."^nuri.s. 



For three hmg summer months, from November 28, they tossed upon the 
waters of the Pacific, without sight of land ; all their provisions and fresh 
water were (consumed, and they were reduced to the most lamentable state; 
for the only food which they could obtain was prepared by soaking old leather 
in sea-water to soften it. Nineteen of their men died, besides the surviving 
giant that they had carried from Patagonia; his comrade had died just before 
they entered the Straits of Magellan. Not one of those who survived was 
free from disease, and many were so disabled that they could not jierform 
their usual duties. 



MAGELLAN, THE UISCOVKRER OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC. 



280 



In one particular they were mo.st fortunate; the ocean fully justified the 
name which Magellan had given it; and, although they sailed four thousand 
leagues before they saw laud, there was not a storm to alarm them, or even 
a threat of foul weather. 




MAia;LL.C< AT lUK Ladroxk IsLAM)S. 

( From an Old Engraving.) 

The first land which they descried was two small islands, which proved to 
be uninhabited, and to produce only some useless trees. These two islands, 
.although they were six hundred miles apart, the disappointed mariners, who 
had hoped to find food upon them, called the Unfortunate Islands. 
19 



2'M) MACrKLLAN, THE DISC0VKRP:R OK THE SOUTH TACIFIC. 

These were the first of many islands bj' whic^h they were to pass, and where 
food might be ol)taincd in abundance from those more inviting than these 
isles of disaijpointment; for the vessels were now upon tiie outskirts of Poly- 
nesia. The first important stofjping-place is recorded in the journal of the 
expedition — a more relial)le authority than the accounts of the giants — as 
being twelve degrees north of the equator, and one hundred and forty-six 
west of Greenwich; though, of course, in the original, the longitude is 
reckoned from the capital of Spain. Here the Admiral determined to remain 
for some time, to obtain the necessary supplies of food, water, and fuel; and 
to refresh by rest on land and plenty of wholesome food thi^ men who had 
s.uffcrcd such i)rivations during the voyage. But the inhabitants proved to be 
so thievish that he could not do so. They visited the ships daily, and at every 
visit stole w hatever they could lay their hands upon. It was only with the 
greatest diificulty that Magellan could prevent his men from indulging in a 
general fight with the natives, striking sail and standing in to shore near 
enough to fire upon the occupants of the canoes as they landed. He suc- 
ceeded, however, in restraining them; and selected forty men to accompany 
himself on an expedition of retaliation. 

In the encounter which followed their landing, seven of the natives were 
killed; the others only saved themselves by a hasty retreat. ^V village, con- 
sisting of more than fifty huts, from which the men, women, and children 
had hastily ried at the beginning of the battle, was burned; several canoes 
were destroyed; and a ship's boat, which the islanders had stolen from the 
stern of one of the vessels, was carried off in triumph by the victors. 

Having thus punished the dishonest islanders, Magidlan returned to his 
fleet, and revenged himself further by styling these Lisulae Latroimm, or 
"Islands of Tliieves." Followed by more than two hundred canoes, the 
occupants of which made many signs expressive of repentance and better 
behavior for the future, Magellan hoisted sail and was soon out of sight of 
the islands; the canoes slowly returning to land as the islanders saw that not 
the least attention was paid to them. 

March 10, 1521, they landed upon a small island some thirty leagues from 
the Ladrones, which is now included under that name; and the next day 
removed to a neighboring island, finding it better suited for their purposes. 
Here a tent was pitched for the accommodation of the sick, and a hog was 
killed for the delectation of the well. This was probably an animal that had 
been captured on the island, as it is not probable that they would eat leather 
soaked in sea-water if an animal in any way fit for food was on board any of 
the four ships. 

They had been in their new quarters about a week when they were visited 
l)V nine men in a canoe, who brought with them cocoa-wine and other 
presents, which they offered to Magellan. Finding their gifts acceptable. 



MAGELLAN, Till'. DfSCOVKREK OF TllK JSOrTH l'A('IFIC 



2itl 



they rowed off; promising by signs to return in foiii' duys witii flc.sli, fowls, 
and rice; a promise which was faithfully kept. 

It is not improbable, when we consider how generally the coming of Colum- 
bus was made known among the West Indian islanders, that these men had 
lieard of the strangers from the men who had been attacked by them, and 
took this means of insuring the friendship of the new-comers. Who knows but 
what the men who manned this canoe were regarded as venturing into the very 
jaws of death, when they sought out the dreaded strangers? Perhaps the action 
of those nine South Sea savages is as heroic, could m'b but see it from their 
point of view, as that of any soldier of civilization who ever faced the enemy. 

They came from a small neigh- 
boring island, to which they cord- 
ially invited Magellan and his 
men. They offered in exchange 
for the articles which the Span- 
iards displayed, various kinds of 
spices and some articles made of 
gold. Of this precious metal they 
also wore rings and bracelets, 
while their weapons were orna- 
mented with it. 

To entertain them, and at the 
same time impress them with a 
due idea of his reserve power, 
Magellan caused one of the can- 
non to be discharged while these 
visitors were on board; which so 
frightened them that they were 
about to jump into the sea, when 
the sailors interfered, and reas- 
sured them of the friendliness of 
the Admiral. 

They remained a week longer at 
this island, visited frequently- by Tattooed Socxn Sea Isi..vxder. 

the friendly islanders, and supplied by them with such delicacies as oranges, 
palm wine, and cocoa-nuts, which were especially appreciated by the sick. 

Leaving this island March 25, they steered between west and southwest: 
and three days later anchored off a larger body of land, which proved to be 
inhabited. The people seemed well disposed; and Magellan presented their 
King with a red and a yellow garment, made long and flowing, after the fashion 
of those worn by the Turks; and distributed knives and glass beads among 
his principal courtiery, 




292 MAdELLAN, THE DISCOVERER OF THE SOUTH I'ACIFIC. 

No pains were si)ared to impress these people witli;itliic respect for the 
weapons of the .strangers, both defensive and offensive; after a cannon had 
been lired off, to show the power of destruction which they possessed, a sailor 
was dressed in armor and ordered ashore, where the savages were invited to 
strike him. Tlu-y were duly impressed with the amount of protection afforded 
by his armor; and the King declared that one such man would be a match for 
a hundred of his naked soldiers. 

Nor was the King less astonished when he saw an illustration of the aid 
which writing can afford to those acquainted with its mysteries; one of 
the officers wrote down a great number of common nouns, and, nuich to the 
astonishment of the King, was able to repeat the list without difficulty by 
simply referring to his paper. 

In this island, they found, when they came to return the visits of the King 
and his courtiers on board the vessels, a number of articles made of gold; 
including vessels in the royal residence; which building, by the way, is some- 
what irreverently compared to a hay-loft. But Magellan would not permit 
trades to be made without his knowledge; for he was afraid the islanders 
would learn what value the Spaniards put on gold, and would denuind high 
prices accordinglj'. When, therefore, a collar and crown of gold were offered 
in exciiange for some glass beads, he would not permit the trade to be made; 
requiring something else to be added to tiie ornaments of gold before he de- 
cided that the value of the beads had been ecjualled. 

Nor did the devout Spaniards neglect to act, in some measure, as mission- 
aries. The King was presented with a cross and a crown of thorns, to which, 
at the time of presentation, all the wdiite men paid a low reverence. Mag- 
ellan bade them set it upon their highest mountain, and bow down reverently 
before it; if they did this, he assured them, thej* would be safe from storms 
and other misfortunes; andtheirdoingit would insure their being well treated 
by any Christains who might chance to lancl at their island. It seemed to the 
Spaniards to be a promise of good that the people of these islands were not 
Mohammedans, but heathens; since, they observe. Gentiles are much more 
easily converted to the true faith than are the Mohammedans. 

In return for the treatment which he had received at their hands, the King 
of this island furnished them with pilots, who conducted them to several others 
not far off. The King of one was taken on board, while they set sail for an- 
other, which they called Zubut. 

They were now within the limits of the Portuguese explorations, or at least 
within a portion of the ocean where that nation was known and feared. A 
vessel manned by a Portuguese crew, and having a cargo of gold and slaves, 
had anchored opposite the capital of this island the day before Magellan 
reached there; and had offered tribute to the King. Kcndered bold by this 
deference, the King proceeded to exact tribute of Magellan; assuring him 



MAGELLAN, THE DISCOVEREK OK THE SOUTH PACIKIC. 293 

that all who came to his dominions were obliged to pay it. ]\Iagellan found 
the source of this claim, and replied that the course which the other white 
men had pursued was no guide for him; that the King of Portugal was a far 
less powerful monarch than the master whom he served; and that the Em- 
peror was so powerful that his subjects paid tribute to none. If the King 
persisted in his claim, he might find himself involved in war with a ruler who 
would crush him in the first conflict. 

There was at the court a Moorish trader, who assured the King that these 
claims on behalf of the Emperor Charles were well founded. This monarch 
accordingly asked a day in which to consider his answer to Magellan's refusal; 
and in the mean time furnished the sailors with everything which their 
necessities required. 

While he was deliberating how to withdraw gracefully from the arrogant 
position which he had assumed, he was visited by that King who had accom- 
panied Magellan on board his ship; and who could not sufficiently impress 
upon the mind of his brother monarch the excellent qualities of the Admiral. 
Whether he came of his own accord, or was instructed by Magellan, his 
words produced the effect which the latter would have desired; the demand 
for tribute was withdrawn, and the people of the island entered eagerly into 
traffic with the new-comers. 

The King also sent his nephew on board the Admiral's vessel, attended by 
many of his chief courtiers, with many very valuable presents, as a proof of 
friendly feeling. The mai'iners now became active missionaries ; and preached 
their faith with such earnestness that, it is said, within a very short time af- 
terward the whole island was converted and baptized. 

The King very readily gave them permission to bury ashore one of the sail- 
ors who had died since they cast anchor; and was much impressed with the 
solemnities attending the burial. The conversion of the King was celebrated 
by the firing of cannon; his majesty having previously been warned that he 
must not be frightened at the noise. More than five hundred persons were 
baptized in one day, after which ceremony mass was celebrated ; and then the 
King and many of his principal attendants were invited to dine with the Ad- 
mii'al on board his vessel. 

The idols were destroyed and crosses erected in many places. There was 
one village, however, where the inhabitants i-ef used to accept the new faith. 
Magellan at once resolved to use such persuasion as was usual, in similar cases 
at that day, among all Christian nations. The inhabitants were driven from 
their homes, and obliged, at the point of the sword, to obey the royal com- 
mand to be baptized; their village was burned, and a wooden cross erected 
on its site. The fact that this cross-was made of wood was due to the people 
being Gentiles, as all non-Christians except Jews and Mohanmicdans were 
called; had they been Mohammedans, says the quaint old chronicle, the cross 



L".l| 



M A(;i'.l,l,.\N, TIIK DISCONKlJKi: 



urii rAciru 



liad bocMi iiiink- of stoiio, in allusion to Iho i)oeuli;ir hardness of tlioir hearts. 
Let not the reader exclaim against the i)roeess which Magellan adopted in 
his efforts to make converts to the Christian religion. In England, regarded 
as the European home of liberty, men were sent to the stake, thirty years 
after Magellan died, because they would not profess the same form of relig- 
ion as that which the State prescribed: it was the time, and not the man, 
which was mistaken. 







6^ 




Sjtv?*r 




IIkroic Dr\tii of MaCELIuW. 

They next landed at one of the Philippine Islands, which tiiey fountl the 
natives called ]\Iathan. This was ruled by two Kings. Zula and Cilapulapu. 
Magellan suninioned both of them to pay tribute to the King of Spain. Zula 



MAGELLAN, THE DISCOVERER OF THE SOITTH PACIFIC. 295 

seems to have acceded to this demand; but Cilapuhipu indignantly refused 
to do so. Magellan, determined to enforce his claim, chose sixty of his 
bravest men, armed them with coats of mail and helmets, and marched upon 
the independent ruler. 

Cilapulapu was not taken by surprise, for threatening messages had been 
sent him after he had refused the tribute. He hastily collected all his fighting 
men, and disposed them in three divisions, numbering about two thousand 
each. His soldiers were armed with missile weapons of various kinds, 
lances, darts, arrows, and javelins; most of the arrows, and some of the 
other weapons, being rendered more effective by being dipped in poison. 

The little force of mail-clad Spaniards did not know what a large body of 
men had been collected to oppose their advance; but fondly imagined that 
their armor gave them the advantage over the enemy, were he many times 
their superior in point of numbers. They advanced boldly upon the half- 
concealed enemy; and had almost reached a point at which the tight would 
be hand to hand, when a flight of arrows came down upon them. They rat- 
tled like hail upon the steel coats, and many were turned from their mark; 
but some penetrated through the joints of the armor, and, breaking the skin, 
sent the deadly poison in which the points had been dipped coursing through 
the veins of the victim. It was so that an arrow wounded Magellan; and 
while the bewildered white men strove to make ready their own weapons, the 
enemy rushed upon them in overwhelming numbers. The wounded leader, 
bravely striving to direct his men in spite of his hurt, received a stroke full 
in the face from a cane lance; it was a staggering blow; and he sank to the 
ground, overcome by the stroke and by the poison of the arrow. 

Eight of his followers shared their leader's fate. But the victory was not 
a bloodless one for the prince who had thus defended his independence; 
fifteen of the islanders bit the dust, and many more were wounded. 

The death of Magellan caused the utmost consternation among the sur- 
vivors of his command; and they retreated to their vessels as hastily as they 
could, defending their rear as they tied. The news which they brought cre- 
ated confusion for a time on board the ships; but the mariners speedily rec- 
ognized that they must have a leader who should have authority to command 
them ; and they elected two, Odoardo Barbosa, who, like Magellan, was a na- 
tive of Portugal, and Juan Scri-ano, who was a Si)aniard. 

An embassy was sent to Cilapulapu, offering a ransom for the body of 
the dead Admiral; but he refused to treat with them; esteeming this the most 
valuable spoils of his victory. The mariners were not content with one effort, 
but all their endeavors to purchase Magellan's body proved unsuccessful. 

The hostile King was far from being appeased by the death of the Admiral 
and some of his followers; his enmity was thoroughly aroused. Reentered 
into negotiations with the person who was employed as interpreter, and liually 



2'M .MACiKLLAN, TIIK UISCOVKRKR Ol' TIIK hOlTU rACIlIC'. 

iuducod liiiii to entrap and di-livor np the Spaniard who had been ohosen joint 
leader with Barbosa after Maj^eHan's death; and Serrano was murdered by 
the vindicl ivo barbarian. 

The mariners now saw that it was safest for them to put a considerable 
sli-eleh of salt water between them and this hostile king as soon as possible. 
'I'heir numbers, however, were grcatl.y reduced; they had lost nine men in 
battle, and one by treachery since landing at this island; and .several had died 
from disease and hardship since they had entered the Pacific. It was therefore 
determined to transfer all the men and .supplies from one vessel, the Co)i- 
r('}ifion, which was decided to be the least sea-worthy of the four, and set fire 
to her before proceeding with the other three. 

Tiiis plan being carried out, they sailed toward the southwest, having ob- 
tained some information regarding the Molucca Islands. No adventures of 
note befell them until they reached Borneo, where they were received with 
considerable distinction by the King. The strangers did not know whethcrto 
be most impressed by the elephants with silken housings, which he sent to 
carry their chief men to court, or by the ten royal secretaries who did their 
writing on pieces of the bark of trees, or by the smooth round pearls, as 
large as a hen's egg, which the monarch proudly displayed to them. But 
while they were thus debating this cpusstion in their own minds, they were 
suddenly attacked by a fleet of a hundred junks. 

Tlie attack was repulsed without much difficulty; and four of th(> junks 
were captured. On l)oard one of these was the Captain-General of the King of 
Borneo, who had just returned from a military expedition. The white men 
Iicartily congratulated themselves upon having taken a prisoner of such im- 
portance, and committed him to the charge of the pilot while the leaders 
considered the question of how great a ransom they might demand for him. 
But this question was not decided before the pilot was obliged to confess that 
his prisoner had given him the slip; and, naturally, the subject of ransom 
lost all interest. 

They seemed to have thought it best, after this occurrence, to leave Bor- 
neo; and returned to the Piiilippine Islands, landing at the most southern 
of the larger members of that group. Here they refitted their ships, and 
took in fuel and water sufficient for a considerable voyage; their labors being 
rendered much harder by the fact that their worn-out shoes afforded no pro- 
tection to their feet. 

From this island, they steered southeast in .seanli of the iloluccas, the 
destination wliicli Magellan had proposed to the King when first laying the 
l)roject of this voyage before him. They had landed at several islands, re- 
ceiving at each some information regarding these bodies of land, before they 
actually reached them. 

"After a very violent tempest, they put into tlie island of Sarangani, from 



MA(iEl,LAN, TIIK OISCOVEKKK OK TIIK SOITII I'ACI KIC. 



297 



I 



whence they forced two pilots to conduct them to the Moluccas; and on the 
sixth of November, in the twenty-seventh month of their departure from 
Spain, after having j^assed many islands, the names of which, for brevity's 
sake, we omit, they came in sight of the Moluccas ; on which occasion they 
gave thanks to God, and dischai'ged all their ordnance. The soundings in 




Iiu Visir TO nil Ki\i oi Boimo 
these seas are not anywhere less than an hundred and two yards, though the 
Portuguese had represented them as dangerous for their shallows and rocks, 
as well as the darkness of the sky; but this fable they invented to intimidate 
other nations from undertaking this voyage." 
The cruise of the Spanish mariners now ceases to be a voyage of discovery. 



L".ln AIACJKI.I.AN, TIIK DISC'OVKREK Ol" TIIK SOI TH hALlKIC. 

siiu'i' tlu'V wore in waters wliicli liad heon exi)lort,'(l by the Portiiguo* , uiid to 
whitli tliat government laid claim. We then nui.st pass briefly over the re- 
mainder of tho history. They touched at several other islands in this group, 
and made friends with the natives, exchanging the goods which they had left 
for the .spices which the inhabitants brought to the vessels. Many of the 
rulers, impressed by the accounts which the Spaniards gave of the riches and 
power of their master, the Emperor, took occasion to send him presents of 
such articles as they thought njost valuable. 

At an island near the Moluccas, they were obliged to leave one of their 
vessels, as she had sprung a leak which they could not stop; and some of 
their men were detailed to work upon her, and bring her back to Spain, if 
possible. The others, reduced to forty-six in number, continued their jour- 
ney among the various islands of Polynesiauntil February 11, 1522, when they 
passed the exttepiity of Molucca; and keeping outside of Sumatra, and 
avoiding the main land for fear of the Portuguese, sailed due west toward 
the eastern coast of Africa. 

Favorable winds andcurrents carried them along the coast without difficulty 
until they ncared the Capeof Good Hope; and here a head-wind kept them 
beating about for seven weary weeks. This unexpectedly long voyage brought 
them into great distress; for the food began to give out. However, they 
were afraid to venture on shore, for fear of the Portuguese; and, although 
they suffered greatly from famine, they kept at sea for two months longer. 
During this time, twenty-one of their number diec) from hunger and the dis- 
eases brought about by it and other hardshi})s. 

The handful of stai'ving survivors finally put in at one of the Cape Verde 
Islands, sending deputies asliore to represent their pitiable condition to the 
Portuguese authorities. They were allowed some measures of rice, which 
were quickly disposed of; and thirteen of the sailors undertook to goon 
shore again, to secure a further supply of provisions. But the Portuguese 
considered that they had done quite enough for them, and seized these men 
and tlirew them into prison. The others, panic-stricken, hoisted sail; and 
without waiting to try to release their comi)anions, set out for Spain. 

September 7, 1522, the twelve remaining mariners landed at the port of St. 
Lucar, near Seville; where, " having discharged their ordnance for joy, they 
proceeded barefooted and in their shirts, to the cathedral church, to thank 
God for their preservation." 

And well they might do so; for these dozen men, out of the two hundred 
and thirty-seven who had sailed away from Seville more than three years be- 
fore, had done what no man before their time had ever accomplished — they 
had circumnavigated the globe. 

Their comrades who had been left behind in charge of the disabled ship 
were fortunate enough to repair her so that a voyage was possible; but they 



MAGELLAN, THE DISCOVERER OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC. 299 

did not follow in the track of the other vessels. Instead, they turned to the 
eastward, and sailed straight across the Pacific to the isthmus connecting the 
two Americas, and there found an asylum among their countrymen; but 
theirs was not the honor of having "put a girdle round the earth," as was 
that of their sailor comrades. 



CHAPTER X. 

CABRAL, THE DJWCON'KIIEK OF BKAZIL. 

Accidental Discoveries — Vasco da Gama — Portuguese Adventurers in India-^A Second 
Expedition — Cabral Cominiinder — To the Southwest — The Coast of Brazil — Cabral Lands — 
Heport Sent to Portugal — Sets Sail — A Fatal Stonn — Doubling the Cape of Good Hope — 
Madagascar — Seeking Prester John — Fighting for the Uajah — A Corner in Spices — The 
Rajah's Trap — Cabral Falls Into It^ — Attacked by the Arabs — A Ma-ssacre — A Hero Rescues a 
Child — Cabral's Vengeance — The Homeward Voyage — Reception at Court — Obscurity. 



sttte 



1 1 ERE is no reconl of" tlic yoiitli of Cabral ; the place and date of his 
^1 birth are unknown to us. His name indicates that he belonged to 
a noble faniilj of Portugal ; but ail the circumstances of his educa- 
tion and rise to prominence are forever lost. One voyage has made him 
known to histor}' ; he is the discoverer of Brazil. 

It is difficult, in attempting to give a complete history of the discovery 
and e\})loration of tlie American continent, to avoid giving some account 
of the voyages which were made lo other parts of the globe. 

Cabral, particularly, is closely connected with the elfbrt of the Portu 
guese to establish commercial settlements in India. If it be objected that 
he shoidd not be placed among discoverers of America, because the one 
voyage which connects him with this continent was intended to end in 
Asia, and his coming to America was purely accidental, we have no answer 
to make; the argument is unanswerable if you choose to employ it; but 
when Cabral is struck from the list for tliis reason, others must follow, to 
whom the same objection applies; and the first name to be struck oil' will 
be that of Christopher Columbus. 

Vasco da Gama had nuide his famous \oyage around the Caj)e of Gooil 
Hope; he had reached India, and had entered into negotiations with the 
sovereign of Calicut, whom he calls the Zamorin. But while engaged in 
treating with this monarch, certain Arabian traders, fearing for their own 
business relations should the Europeans once be admitted to this market, 
persiuuled the Zamorin that the Portuguese were no better than pirates, 
and that the presents which (Jama had brought him from the King of 
Portugal were trilling articles which showed rather contempt than respect 
for the person to whom they were oHered. 

A portion of the goods which (Jama had brought with him had beenlanded 
at the suggestion of tlic KInt: <>f Cidicut, nnd, wliile the Aral)s were secretly 
(300) 



CABRAL, THE DISCOVERER OF BRAZIL. 



301 



undermining the respect and regard in which Gama was at first held, the 
Portuguese sailors were permitted to go on shore freely, as if they were 
among undoubted friends. But the words of the Arabs did their work; and 
at last those who chanced to be on shore were held as prisoners, while the 
Admiral received word that his goods had been seized. 




Vas<o pa Gama. 

Gama was equal to the occasion. He watched his opportunity, attacked a 
ship that lay in the harbor, and captured six noblemen, with a number of 
their attendants. These, he announced, he would hold as prisoners until hi.^ 
own men and his goods were restored to him. The Zamorin, alarmed, sent 
him word that he had only detained the two Portuguese until he could write 
a letter to the King of Portugal; as he desired them to act as his messengers. 
They were permitted to return on board the ship, and, after some delay, the 
goods were restored. 

But Gama did not hold to his part of the agreement; having recovered his 



302 CABRAL, Till-; DISCDVKKKK OF lUtAZlI-. 

own nu-n and the cargo of the vessels, he declined to release the prisoners 
whom he had taken, and sailed away with thcui on hoard. Pursued and at- 
tacked by an Indian fleet, a sudden storm helped the larger and more man- 
ageable ships of the Europeans; and,the vessels of the Zaniorin being scattered, 
the Portuguese fleet escaped to the coast of Africa, thence around the Cape 
to their own country. 

Emmanuel resolved to prosecute the enterprise, and, if possible, open up 
a trade with India, Calicut being consiilered the most important city. Ho 
cijiiippcd a fleet of thirteen ships, manned by fifteen hundred men. A^'hy 
(iama was not chosen as the leader of this expedition does notai)i)ear; for 
he had been loaded with every honor that could be imagined, and the com- 
mand of this fleet was in itself a high honor. Whatever the reason, CJama 
was left in Portugal, while Pedro Alvarez Cabral was made Admiral of the 
fleet to the Indies. 

This navigator may have been .second in command on the previous voyage; 
if Gama declined the command, wishing to rest awhile before going to sea 
again, it would naturally be offered to his lieutenant. If this were not the 
case, Cabral had probably made successful voyages to the coast of Africa, or 
to the various groups of i.slands so frequented by the old sailors. He must 
have shown both courage and ability of very marked degree to be entrusted 
with so important an enterprise as this. 

Admiral Cabral was commissioned to treat with the Samudri-rajah, or 
Prince of the Coast, whose title the Portuguese had corrupted into Zamorin, 
and obtain permission from him to build a fort near his city of Calicut; 
but if the monarch should not allow this, and should seem indisposed to have 
any dealings with the Portuguese at all — as was not improbal)le, from his ex- 
perience of Gama — Cabral was to declare war and to treat him as an enemy. 
He was also charged with friendly messages to the King of Melinda, an 
African potentate at whose dominions on the eastern coast, just south of the 
equator, Gama had found shelter from storms and the provisions which he 
needed. 

Although the King of Portugal had thus determined to force his commerce 
upon the Indians, or declare Mar against them, he was not unmindful of his 
duty as a Christian. It was highlj' desirable to convert the natives of these 
countries — after the countries were duly subjected to the rule of a Christian 
prince — and five friars were sent to convert them, and to establish religious 
services for the benefit of their companions on the vessels, should they be 
permitted to build the fort at Calicut. 

March 8, 1500, the fleet set sail; but hardly had they passed the Island of 
St. .Tago, when a furious storm burst upon them. The fleet was scattered; 
all of the vessels suffered more or less; one lost almost all her rigging, and 
was obliged to put back to Lisbon. Cabral waited for hor for two days; but 



CABRAL, THE UISCOVKUKIt OF BRAZIL. 



HOB 



as she did not make her appeiiraiice then, he .set sail, steering to the south- 
west. 

What private orders Cabral may have received, which led him to take this 
course, we do not know. A treaty had been made between the sovereigns 
of Spain and Portugal, by which a line of division between the countries open 
to settlement by either nation had been agreed upon. This was in agreement 
with that earlier division wjiich had been made by the authority of the Pope. 




Cabral Before the Zamorin. 
The course to be taken in sailing toward the Cape of Good Hope must have 
been perfectly well known to Cabral and his pilots; for the Portuguese had 
been exploring the western coast of Africa for more than a century. But 
John of Portugal had served Columbus a scurvy trick, and so lost the vast 
dominions which the Genoese had had the power of adding to the Crown 
which he served; and John's successor probably determined to regain, by 
just such another trick, some portion of what his cousin had lost. Cabral 



304 CABRAL, THE D18COVEUEK OK lUJAZIL. 

was probably iiistriu-tcd privately to keep to the westward, in order to secure 
to Portuf^al, by right of discovery, some portion of (hat New World which 
evcr^' voyage of the Sjjaniards showed to be better worth having. 

The westward voyage was without event until Ajjril 24, when one of the 
seamen descried land. This was a surprise to all, including the Adniirai, for 
they had tiunight the voyage would be much longer. This astonishment con- 
tirms the supposition above stated; for had they intended to double the Capt' 
of Good Hope, and steered accordingly, they would hardly have been sui- 
prised to see land a month and sixteciu days after leaving Lisl)oii. 

Approaching the coast, Cabral sent one of his captains ashore to examine 
the nature and situation of the land, lie soon returned with a favorable a<- 
count of tlu! country; describing its tall trees, the verdure of its plains, and 
the I)eauty of its birds. He had seen some of the natives, naked, of a dusky 
olive hue, with long, lank hair as black as jet. Several other officers, im- 
pressed by the description, asked and obtained permission to go on shore to 
make observations. 

While the men who had remained on board were listening with eager inter- 
est to the accounts given by these explorers, a storm came up. The ships 
were prepared, as they thought, to meet it; but it proved more violent than 
they had thought; the vessels were torn from their anchorage, and tossed 
about like cockle-shells upon the waves. However, they managed to elude 
the dangers of the coast, and finally anchored anew in a harbor which Cabral 
named Porto Seguro. 

From this safe resting place, he again sent officers on board to recounoiter. 
They returned with two natives, whom they had taken prisoners as they were 
in their canoe, Ushing. The Portuguese tried to communicate with these In- 
dians, but found it impossible to make them understand the meaning of the 
signs which they employed for the purpose. There was something, though, 
that was not so hard to comprehend: Cabral ordered them to be clothed, 
and having presented them with some small bells, brass rings, and looking- 
glasses, sent them on shore; they understood from this that the strangers 
had come as friends and possessed many articles of very great value — such as 
bells and brass rings. 

The generosity of the strangers was told, by the recipients of these gifts, 
to their companions; and the water about the ships was thronged, the next 
day, by canoes full of natives, who brought fruits and other articles of food, 
to barter for the trifles which the Portuguese had provided for such a pur- 
pose. 

Cabral now judged it best to go ashore in person; and having made a short 
tour about the country near the harbor, ordered an altar to be erected un- 
der the shade of a large tree. In this primeval temple, the service of mass 
was performed in the presence of a host of natives, who watched the pro- 



CABKAL, THE DI.SCOVKREK OB" BRAZIL. 



305 



ceedings with admiring silence, and apparently not without reverence. By 
their gestures, they seemed to the Portuguese to express a deep sense of re- 
ligion. 




Cabral Takes Possession op Brazil. 

As the Admiral and his men returned to the ship, they were followed by 
most of those who had been witnessesof their worship, who seemed to be in a 
transport of joy. They sang aloud, blew a kind of trumpet, threw arrows into 
the air, and lifted their hands to heaven, seeming, to the flattered mariners, 
" to give thanks for the arrival of such a godlikepeople." Some of them, not 
content with following the strangers to the beach, jumped into the sea and 

20 



3(JH CAHUAI., TIIK I)IS(<)\I:1!1:K <>(■ IU!\/II,. 

swam uftor the boats which were conveying them to the sliips. Others, bet- 
ter provided, foUowed in canoes ; and it took considerable persuasion to in- 
duce them to return to land. 

Cabral caused a marble pillar to be erected, in commemoration of the (iis- 
covery, and named the country Santa Cruz. This name, so devoutly given, 
was not used to any extent on the charts and mai)s of the time, being speedily 
displaced by the name of Brazil, from the chief commodity which the ves- 
sels brought from that country to Europe. 

Assured that this was a new country, and not any part of Asia, Cabral dis- 
patched one of his lieutenants, Jasper Laemio, to Portugal, to render an ac- 
count to the King of his discovery. Here, again, seems a proof that he 
deliberately set out to explore some part of the New World, in accordance 
with orders to that effect from the King of Portugal. If not so, surely the 
news of the discovery would have kept till he himself returned to Lisbon. 

Only five days, in all, were spent on the coast of Brazil. Probably Cabral 
did not know how soon he might come in contact with sonu; Spanish vessels, 
and be drivcm off the coast. He seems to have desired to touch there, lay 
claim to it, send word to Portugal that he had done so, and be off as soon as 
possible, to prosecute the acknowledged and legitimate object of his voyage. 

He set sail April 19; but had been out at sea but a few days when a storm 
rushed down so suddenly that before the sails could be handled and other 
necessary precautions taken, four ships had run afoul of one another, and were 
dashed to pieces. Every soul on board perished, while their friends and com- 
panions on the other vessels saw them go down, without the power to render 
them the least assistance, and not knowing how soon they themselves would 
share this fate. 

Seven of the fifteen vessels which had been fitted out now remained ; for 
Laemio had been given three, to take the news of the discovery; the dangers 
of the voyage across the ocean being such that it was not well to trust to a 
single vessel reaching her destination. Of the seven which were left to Cab- 
ral, one was tossed about by the tempest until many of her crew had been 
swept overboard, and she had lost sight of her consorts entirely. Not know- 
ing what had become of them, and scarcely able to keep from sinking, she 
was turned toward Portugal. It seemed a hopeless undertaking to steer the 
disabled ship across the wide Atlantic, but it was the only chance that they 
had for life ; and the desperate seamen undertook the task. Their water casks 
had been thrown overboard during the storm, to lighten the vessel, and much 
of their food had been sacrificed for the same reason; the sailors hoping that 
their more fortunate comrades would share with them when the storm had 
passed over. This left them with but little food and water, notwithstanding 
the reduction of their number; and so much did they suffer from hunger, thirst, 
and fatigue, that but six men reached Portugal alive. 



CABBAL, THE DISCOVKRER OK BRAZIL. 307 

The other six vessels were more fortunate ; and, after buffeting with the 
waves for many days, not having seen each other, came in sight of each other 
June 27. They were now near the southern part of the African coast, and 
rounded the Cape without experiencing any bad weather. 

Toward the end of July, they arrived at Mozambique, where a supply of 
water was obtained. A pilot was hired to guide them to Quiloa, the modern 
Madagascar. Here Cabral sent friendly messages to the ruler, whose name 
is stated as Abraham ; but excused himself from going ashore, on the ground 
that he was forbidden by the King his master to do so. This prohibition 
does not seem to have extended to any new country which he might discover, 
as the accounts expressly say that while his ships were anchored at Porto 
Seguro, he went ashore in person. The excuse was accepted by the King, 
who announced his intention of visiting the ships. Cabral made every prep- 
aration to receive his dusky guest, clad himself in his most elegant suit, had 
his officers dressed in their most gorgeous costumes, and, attended by them, 
in the boats of the ships, set off to meet the galley of the King, while the 
cannon on the ships* thundered a welcome to Abraham. Their interview was 
conducted with all the ceremony which the Kings of Portugal and Spain might 
have used to each other, and with just about as much sincerity; for when the 
monarch returned from his visit, he reconsidered his intention of making 
friends with the Portuguese, and reinforced his garrison, putting the whole 
capital in a better state of defence. The reason for this change of sentiment 
was probably to be traced to the representations of some Arabs, who, like 
their brethren at Calicut, did not hesitate to accuse the Portuguese of being 
"blood-thirsty pyrates," as the old chronicles have it; and assert that these 
strangers, if they once gained a foothold, would strip the King of all his pos- 
sessions and ravage the whole country. Perhaps the Arabs were not far 
wrong, but the Portuguese became exceedingly indignant at these accusations, 
and Cabral set sail at once for Melinda, where he felt sure of meeting with a 
favorable reception. 

Here, we are told, his ari'ival "gave inexpressible joy to the people and 
their sovereign, who instantly provided refreshments for the whole fleet."" 
The most remarkable feature of their landing here was the fact that Cabral 
left two of his men at Melinda, with instructions to travel, if possible, into 
"that part of Ethiopia which lies above Egypt," to learn what truth there was 
in the rumor that a Christian king and people were there to be found. Some 
uncertain information about Abyssinia, with a great deal of fable added, had 
given rise to the belief in a mysterious monarch, holding the Christian faith 
in the midst of savage and heathen neighbors, called PresterJohn. This was 
the ruler w^om these two " exiles," as the old account styles them, were to 
endeavor to find. 

Sotting sail from Melinda on July 7. they touched at the Maldive Islands, 



CABRAL, THE DISCOVERER OF BRAZIL. 305) 

and arrived at Calicut Julj' 30. Here, contrary to their expectations, they 
were received with the greatest show of friendship and respect by the rajah, 
who sent a high otficial to welcome them, and afterwards received them in 
much state. The letters of the King of Portugal being read and interpreted 
to him by a Moor who had accompanied the expedition, the rajah granted all 
the privileges of trading for which the Portuguese had asked, assured them 
of his protection, and assigned for their use a large building near the seashore, 
directing that a banner with the arms of Portugal should be placed on top of 
this house, and that his orders should be engraved upon a golden plate, as a 
token to the Portuguese that his promises would not be forgotten. 

But if the Hindoo ruler granted what the Portuguese asked, he considered 
that he might ask favors in his turn. News had reached him to the effect 
that a large vessel, having on board an elephant, had been sent by a neighbor- 
ing prince to attack his fleet; he requested Cabral to watch for the coming of 
this hostile vessel, and attack it before the crew had time to set upon his 
ships. 

The rajah had supposed that the whole fleet of Cabral would be put about 
to contend with this formidable enemy; and perhaps he judged it a good way 
of getting rid of his troublesome guests. Much to his surprise, however, 
Cabral assigned one small vessel to the duty, and calmly awaited the result in 
the harbor of Calicut. 

The little caravel, well provided with cannon, did not hesitate to attack the 
great clumsy vessel of the East; and by keeping out of range of the darts 
and other weapons with which the Indian soldiers were provided, managed 
easily to work great havoc without incurring any special danger. The enemy 
endeavored to save themselves by flight ; but the caravel was as swift as she was 
well-armed; and the great vessel from which the rajah had feared so much 
until he saw in its coming a chance of getting rid of his new allies, was driven, 
helpless and disabled, into the very harbor of Calicut. 

Meantime the Arabian merchants had made good use of their time; and had 
created what the newspapers of to-day would style " a corner in si^ices."' Ca- 
bral found it exceedingly difScult to get enough, at prices in any way reason- 
able, to freight his ships. He appealed to the Zamorin, who professed great 
indignation ; and assured Cabral that he would be doing right to seize upon 
what the Arabs had bought, and freight his vessels without regard to their 
being paid for the goods. Of course, this was merely a trap ; for he hoped by 
this means to have the Arabs drive off the strangers. 

Cabral, although not without suspicion, fell into the trap; and sent a cap- 
tain of an Arabian vessel word that he must not leave the harbor without 
his — Cabral's — permission. The captain paid no attention to this order, and 
Cabral sent his boat to tow the vessel back. The owner complained to the 
Zamorin, who, without making any positive promise, gave him to undeistand 



310 t AJ5KAI., TIIK DISCOVKRKR OK BRAZIL. 

tliat lie \v:is al full libci-fy to revenge himself. 'riiiTe wei'c about .seventy of 
llie Portufiiifso in tliu hou.se which the Zaiiiorin had assifrned them; and 
thither went the Arab, with about four Inuulred of hi.s retainers, friend.s, rel- 
atives, and otiier countrymen. Sifrnals of distress were hung out, that the 
A(hniral might send them help from thc! ships; but before the boats could 
reach the hind, the attacking i)arty had lnoken down the barricades hastily 
raised, and were lighting hand to hand with the men in the enclosure. 

The Portuguese had but one hope: if they could tigiit their way to the 
shore, they could be under the protection of their gun.s that much the sooner. 
Failing this, they could but sell their lives dearly. It was a desperate tight. 
The white men were suri'ounded on all sides by the Arabs, who fought with 
that carelessness of life which is common among Mohammedans; their re- 
ligion teaching them that they cannot die till their appcn'nted time comes. The 
Portuguese were animated not only by the thought that they were fighting for 
life, but by the idea that they were destroying, with each man that went down 
before their swords, an enemy to their religion. 

The enclosure about tho building which the Zamorin had assigned to the 
Portuguese was not the scene of the battle for very long; as the besieged 
forced their way out, the}' were followed by their blood-thirsty foes; and at 
last, after fifty of them, including the officer who had been in command, had 
been slain, the remaining twenty reached the shore, and were taken into the 
boats which had been sent from the ships. The officer commanding had had 
with him his little son, ten years old; but the child, though now fatherless, 
did not lack a protector; one of the soldiers had defended him, frequently 
by putting his own body between the child and danger. At last they reached 
file shore, the soldier weak and almost fainting from loss of blood. There was 
no boat near them, for they had been driven by the enemy to a lonely part of 
the shore. As one of the boats, laden with wounded men, pulled off toward 
the ships, they were espied by one of the sailors who manned it. He at once 
plunged into the water, and swam to them; then, leaving the dying soldier, 
took the boy on his shoulders, and swam back to the ships, while the arrows 
of the enemy fell harmlessly in the water around him. The boy thus saved 
afterward distinguished himself by many brave and gallant achievements. 

The Zamorin taking no steps to punish the perpetrators of this massacre, 
although fifty of the Portuguese had been slain outright, and most of those 
who escaped immediate death afterward died of their wounds, Cahral called 
a council of his officers, and discussed the course possible. It was resolved to 
take matters in their own hands, and revenge themselves upon the Arabs. 
Ten large Arabian vessels lay in the harbor, and these were suddenly' and 
fiercely attacked. Six hundred of the enemy were killed, and the Arabians' 
ships being plundered by the victorious Portuguese, were set on fire. But 
Cabral's vengeance was not yet complete. The flames had terrified the peo- 



CABRAI-, IllK DISCOV KHKK OK UKAZll,. oil 

plc of the city, so tluit they ran througli the streets in a coudition that bordered 
elosely on frenzy; for they knew not how a chance spark might kindle a 
wide-spreading conflagration among their lightly built houses. Grimly de- 
termined to avenge his slaughtered men, Cabral trained his guns upon the 
city, and destroyed all the chief public buildings, as well as many of the pri- 
vate dwellings. The rajah, seeing one of his most faithful followers laid 
dead at his very feet by a cannon-ball, fled, panic-stricken. 

Cabral then went some seventy leagues southward on the same coast, where 
he found the people, probably warned by the fate of Calicut, ready to trade 
with him in the most satisfactory manner. While busily engaged in loading 
his ships with spices, the Admiral heard that the ruler of Calicut had pre- 
pared a fleet of twenty of his largest ships, manned by fifteen thousand 
soldiers, to revenge the destruction of his city. Cabral at once gave orders 
to sail in search of this armament. 

A contrary wind prevented the execution of this plan; but enough had 
been done to show the rajah that not even this great army could terrify the 
white men; and he ingloriously retreated, without having struck a blow, or 
even come within hailing distance of the Portuguese ships. 

Sailing from India, he took a very rich ship off the coast of Africa; but 
learning from the master that she belonged to Arab merchants of Cambay, 
dismissed her untouched, saying that the King of Portugal was at war with 
no one in Asia but the Zamorin of Calicut and the Arabs of Mecca, who had 
inflicted great injury upon him. Pursuing his course, Cabral lost one of his 
ships in a storm; for she was so injured that it became necessary to transfer 
her crew to the other vessels and burn her. 

Storms in plenty beset their homeward passage ; but at last the diminished 
fleet arrived at Lisbon, July 21, 1504. The vessels which bore the news of 
the discovery of Brazil had long since reached their destination; and Cabral 
was received with the honors due to a successful execution of secret orders. 
His discovery resulted in a new line of division being drawn between Span- 
ish and Portuguese territory, Brazil being included in the dominions of the 
King of Portugal. It remained closely connected with that country long 
after it became an independent country; and as long as the form of govern- 
ment was monarchial, the Emperor of Brazil was a near relative of the King 
of Portugal. 

The success which Cabral had reached was not, however, to be the source of 
future honors. For some reason, the King, when he came to look into the 
results of the expedition, did not find them quite equal to his expectations; 
and Cabral was thus balked of his reward. So great was this dissatisfaction, 
as time went on, thatC^abral, at last, was not even mentioned in the list of those 
discoverers who had added dominion and glory to the Crown of Portugal. 

Nothing is known of his after life. He comes into history the brilliant 



312 CABRAL, THE DISCOVKKKU (IC lUtAZII,. 

leader of an expedition bound to distant and unknown countries; his white- 
winged vessels sail across the broad Atlantic, l)earing liini through storms to 
the land of sunshine in tropical America; thence returning to the liiast, and 
across the Indian Ocean, to the country long n'garded, by the Europeans, as 
the treasure-house of the world. Strife and bloodshed attend him there; 
and he sails homo again, to sink, after one brilliant scene when he is received 
with expectant favor by his king, into an obscurity as deep as it was unmer- 
ited. Pedro Alvarez Cabral has been almost forgotten; but one proud 
title serves to rescue his name from oblivion: he was the Discoverer of 
Brazil. 



CHAPTER XL 

HERNANDO CORTES, THE CONQUEROR OF MEXICO. 

Settlements in the New World— Conquest of Cuba — Explorations of Continent — Youth 
and Education of Cortes — A Fortunate Fall — Sails for America — Swimming for Life — Captain- 
General of Armada for Conquest of Mexico — Departure of Cortes — Recruiting in Cuba — His 
Force and Arms- — Embarkation for Yucatan — Preaching to Natives — The Long-Sought Cap- 
tives — Landing at Vera Cruz — In Montezuma's Kealms — The Emperor's Gifts — Progress 
Forbidden — Totonacs Rebel against Montezuma — Cortes Sends a Report to Spain — Destruction 
of the Ships — "To Mexico 1" — The Tlascalaus Resist their Passage — A Night Attack — Cortes 
Reaches Cholula — Montezuma's Despair — Cortes Enters the Capital — Visits Exchanged — 
Diuigerous Position of Cortes — Pretext for Seizing Montezuma — The Purpose Accomplished — 
The Imperial Prisoner — Montezuma in Irons — Ship Building on the Lake — Supremacy of 
Spain Acknowledged by the Aztecs — "Honeyed Words'' — Montezuma's Warning — Cortes' 
Threat — Expedition of Valesquez — Winning Over Enemies — March to the Coast — Submission 
of Valesquez's Army to Cortes — Return to Mexico — Alvarado's Mismanagement — Montezuma 
Commands Peace — Taunted and Wounded — Attacking the Temple — Death of Montezuma — 
"The Melancholy Night" — Personal Feats of the Spaniards — Terrible Losses — Battle of 
Otimiba — " There is our Mark ! " — ' The True Miracle is the Conduct of Cortes " — At Tlascala 
— Cortes Wounded — Reinforcements — Ship Building — Cortes Captured — Heroic Rescue — Siege 
of Mexico — Spanish Prisoners Sacrificed — H(jrrors of the Siege — Destruction of the City — 
Explorations — Court Intrigues — Cortes Triumphant — Expedition to Honduras Estrada's 
Insults — Cortes Goes to Spain — Reception at Court — Rewards — Return to New Spain — Explor- 
ing the Western Coast — To Spain Again — "Deserving too Greatly" — Last Illness and Death 
— His Burial. 

EFORE considering the history of the expedition which explored 
the interior of Mexico, discovering the capital and conquering 
its people, it will be well to trace brieHy the progress of settle- 
ment in the New World. Diego Columbus found the mines of liispaniola 
becoming exhausted, not long after he succeeded to the rights and titles 
of iiis father ; and being actually, as well as nominally. Governor of the 
island, he decided to occupy Cuba. A force was prepared for the con- 
quest of this larger island ; for the reputation of the Spaniards was now 
such that the natives no longer received them with open arms as men 
descended from heaven. Velasquez was the head of this expedition, 
Narvaez his lieutenant. The treatment which they accorded the natives 
may be told in a single incident. A chief who had hed from San Domingo 
to escape Spanish rule, resisted the white men when they invaded Cuba. 
He was captured and condemned to be burned alive. While bound to the 
stake, he was urged, as he had been before, to adopt the religion of his 
captors if he wished to go to heaven. 

" Will the white men go to heaven I he asked. 

" Certainly," was the reply. 

" Then I will not be a Christian," was the unexpected rejoinder," "for 
I would not go again to a place where I must find men so cruel." 

(313) 




314 



CUKTKS, THK CONQIIKROK OF MKXICO. 



Grijalva and Alvarado explored the coast, and held conferences with the 
natives; receiving from them, as gifts and in trade, curiously-wrought orna- 
ments and arms of gold. But the jealous Velasquez received their reports 




with suspicion, and fitted out an armament for further operations in Mexico, 
the command of which he entrusted to a follower in whom he felt greater 
confidence. 



OOKTES, THE CONQLEKOR OK iMEXlCO. 31,') 

Hernando Cortes, who was chosen for this post, was a native of Medellin, 
a town of Western Spain, in 1485, or, according to one authority, 1483. He 
came of an ancient and respectable family, in moderate circumstances; and 
it was proposed to devote the boy, as he grew older, to the study of the law. 

At the age of fourteen he was accordingly sent to the great school at Sala- 
manca; but the two years which he spent there were not enough to make a 
learned lawyer of him. It is true that he learned to write good prose and 
tolerable verses; but his time was passed, for the greater part, in frolics and 
adventures which did not exactly meet the views of his jirofessors. 

Returning home, he announced his desire to become a soldier; a career 
which in those days was simply a life of wild and stirring adventure. His 
parents do not seem to have made any opposition to this choice; perhaps 
they had found that anything would be better than to have him idling away 
his time at home. 

His choice lay between military service in the Old World and in the New; 
and he finally decided upon the latter. He enrolled himself among the fol- 
lowers of Ovando, the successor of Columbus in the government of Hispaui- 
ola, and was all ready to sail with the leader; but a short time before the ex- 
pedition departed, he went to say farewell to a certain lady. To reach her 
apartment, he was obliged to scale a high wall; and while he was thus en- 
gaged, the wall gave way beneath him. He was thrown to the ground, and 
buried under the ruins; for several days the young cavalier was laid up, so 
severe were his bruises; and when he once more crawled out into the sun- 
shine, Ovando had sailed without him. 

For two years after this mishap he remained at home ; finally sailing in 1504, 
in the fleet commanded by Quintero. When he arrived in Hispaniola he was 
readily promised enough land for a farm ; but at first he disdained the idea. 
When, however, he found that nothing better offered at the moment, he ac- 
cepted a grant of land and arepartimientoof Indians — a term almost equiva- 
lent to slave-gang — and the appointment to the oflice of notary to the town 
of Acua. 

The wild young Spaniard did not settle down to the ordinary sober hum- 
drum life of a planter; he frequently took part in the expeditions against the 
Indians of the island; and when, seven years after he had arrived at Hispa- 
niola, Velasquez undertook the conquest of Cuba, Cortes threw aside every 
tie that bound him to the soil, and embarked, heart and soul, in this enter- 
})rise. 

But the favor into which Velasquez received him was not without interrup- 
tion. Scarcely had the Spanish authority been established in Cuba before 
the Spaniards began to plot against their Governor; and the mutineers de- 
cided to lay their complaints before the higher tribunals of Hispaniola. 
Cortes had offended the Governor and received a rebuke; he had readily 



316 CORTES, THE CONQUEROR OK MEXICO. 

joined this disaffected party and was the man whom they chose as their envoy. 
The errand was not without its (hmgers; for the voyage must be made across 
an arm of the sea more than fifty miles wide, and they had no vessel but an 
open boat. Before this most fearless of the conspirators could set off, how- 
ever, the Governor got wind of the whole affair, and, seizing Cortes, fettered 
and imprisoned him. It is said that he oven threatened to hang him. 

But Cortes did not wait for the fuitillmcnt of this threat. Ho managed to 
throw back the bolt of his fetters, and, having thus released his limbs, used 
the irons in forcing open the window of his cell. He then let himself df)wn — 
the room was on the second floor — and escaped to a neighboring church. 

Here, as he very well knew, Vclastjucz could not seize him without commit- 
ting sacrilege. The Governor, however, knowing his natural carelessness, 
posted guards about the church, with orders to arrest him as soon as he stepped 
outside it; and they had not long to wait. Cortes was again shackled, and 
taken aboard a vessel which was to sail the next morning to Hispaniola. Again 
he managed to got rid of his irons, and dropped over the side of the ship into 
a boat which lay alongside. Noiselessly as possible he rowed toward the 
shore; and finding the current too strong, as he neared the land, for hisboat 
to be guided l)y a single arm, he plunged into the seething water, and swam 
for his life. Once on shore, he again sought the shelter of the church. 

The Governor soon afterward relented, and became reconciled to Cortes. 
This was probably brought about by the intercession of the family of the 
young lady whom he was engaged to, but whom he had at one time declined 
to marry. However it was brought about, it was complete and permanent; 
and Cortes received a liberal allowance of land, a repartimiento of Indians, 
and the office of alcalde of St. Jago. Here on his farm he lived for some 
yeai's, stocking it with cattle of various kinds, cultivating the soil, and work- 
ing the gold mines which fell to his share; thus gradually acquiring a snug 
little fortune, of which Las Casas says: "God, who alone knows at what 
cost of Indian lives it was obtained, will take account of it." 

Such was the condition of the fortunes of Cortes when Grijalvaand Alva- 
rado returned with the news of the discoveries which they had made — the 
very Land of Gold which Columbus had so long sought in vain. The Gov- 
ernor, unwilling to trust either of them, and anxious to find some one who 
could contribute something to the cost of fitting out the armamcmt, took 
I two high officials into his counsels. It happened that both of these were 
I close friends of Cortes ; and thus the Governor was persuaded to accept him 
for this position. 

Cortes was named Captain-General of the Armada prepared for the con- 
quest of Mexico. He at once laid aside that levity which had so long distin- 
guished him, and became the grave, earnest man of affairs. Every real that 
he could raise, whether taken from his store already accumulated or procured 



CORTES, THE CONQUEROR OF MEXICO. 317 

by pledging his estates for its repayment, was dovoted to the enterprise; and 
lie persuaded many of his friends to venture tiioir money on his success. 

Six ships were readily procured, and the work of fitting them out went on 
rapidly, while three hundred men volunteered during the first few days. Be- 
fore these preparations were in anyway complete, however, Cortes learned 
that some of his enemies had poisoned the Governor's mind against him ; that 
Velasquez, always inclined to be jealous, had regretted putting Cortes in this 
position, and had determined, although Cortes had actually contributed two- 
thirds of the cost of fitting out tlie expedition, to name another as the leader. 
There was not a moment to be lost, nor was Cortes the man to lose one. He 
quietly notified his officers, got all his men on board, and, half-prepared as he 
was, set sail that very night, at midnight. 

At dawn, the dcpai'ture of the fleet was discovered, and the alarm was at 
once given. The Governor sprang from bed, threw on his clothes, leaped 
upon his horse, and galloped down to the quay, followed by his attendants, 
in more haste than good order. Cortes, as soon as he saw them, entered an 
armed boat, and put back to within speaking distance. 

" And is it thus you part from me?" shouted the angry Governor; "a 
courteous way of taking leave, truly! " 

" Pardon," replied Cortes; " time presses; and there are some things that 
should be done before they are even tliought of. Has your Excellency any 
commands? " 

His Excellency, almost foaming with rage, could not find words to express 
his anger; and Cortes, politely bowing and waving his hand, returned to his 
vessel and sailed for Macaca, fifteen leagues away. Here he laid in such stores 
as he could obtain from the royal farms, considering them a loan from the 
King; and proceeded to Trinidad. He landed there for the purpose of se- 
curing more recruits, in which he was most successful. In addition to the 
many of less importance who flocked to his standard, there were men of high 
rank who had taken part in the former expeditions, who were quite willing to 
enlist under him; and their action not only lent a new dignity to his force, 
but gave him the services of those who knew most about the country to which 
they were going. 

Velasquez sent orders to the Governor of Trinidad to arrest Cortes and 
send him back, as the command of the fleet had been given to another man, 
and he was usurping authority to which he had no right. The Governor, when 
he received these ordci-s, wisely consulted some of Cortes' officers about his 
best plan ; and they advised him that he had better not attempt anything of 
the kind. It would lead to a commotion among the soldiers, they told him; 
for all the common soldiers were devoted to their gallant leader; and they 
might burn the town. He therefore prudently ignored the orders of Vel- 
asquez. 



818 COKTKS, IHK t:0\yUKROK UK .MKXICO. 

Cortes now divided his force, sending a portion under Alvarado across tiie 
Island to Havana, while he, with the remainder and the vessels, would sail 
around tlie western point and rejoin him there, for the purpose of raising yet 
more recruits. 

While at Havana, Cortes made some changes in the way of living, intro- 
ducing a greater number of officers and servants into his household, and as- 
suming more state and ceremony, as became a man of his new rank. He also 
prepared his soldiers for encountering the arrows of the natives, by having 
their jackets thickly quilted with cotton, of which there was an abundance 
around Havana. He divided his army into eleven companies, each under the 
command of an experienced officer, and caused all the arms to be put in per- 
fect order. 

While he was busy about these preparations, the commander of the place 
received the same instructions from Velasquez that the officer in command 
at Trinidad had received; but, like the other, judged it wisest to make no such 
attempt. He knew very well that he had not the power to arrest Cortes; and 
such was the. fascination which the handsome, frank, gay-hearted soldier of 
fortune possessed for all with whom he came in contact, that he bad quite 
won the heart of the commander of Havana. 

The fleet had sailed from St. Jago, Nov. 18, 1.518. Less than three months 
had sufficed to increase the number of ships to nearly double, and the force 
under his command was correspondingly lai'ger. Of the eleven ships, eight 
were caravels and brigantines; the others were vessels of from seventy to 
one hundred tons' burden. One hundred and ten seamen, five hundred and fifty- 
three soldiers, and two hundred Indians, made up his force. Of the soldiers, 
thirty-two were cross-bowmen, and thiileen were provided with arquebuses, 
a kind of rude gun, so clumsy that it was sometimes supplied with a rest on 
which the marksman might suppoi't it while taking aim. Ten heavy guns, 
four falconets — lighter pieces — and a good supply of ammunition, completed 
the outfit. Sixteen horses, each transported with almost incredible difficul- 
ties from Spain to the Indies, in the flimsy craft of the day, and each there- 
fore rated at a far higher value than a good-sized farm, were provided for 
the use of the cavalry; a force to which Cortes looked as the means of strik- 
ing terror into the hearts of the natives at the first sight. 

Before finally embarking at Cape St. Antonio, which he had appointed as 
the rendezvous for all his forces, Cortes addressed his troops in a stirring 
harangue, bidding them remember that great things are to be achieved only 
by great exertions, and that glory M-as never yet acquired by sloth. Ho told 
them, with that utter disregard for the rights of uncivilized nations which 
has always characterized those who claim superiority, that their cause was a 
just one, since they were to fight under the banner of the Cross. 

His speech was received with such acclamations as any utterance of his 



CORTES, THE CONQUEROR OF MEXICO. 319 

would have been accorded by his. devoted soldiers, and mass having been cel- 
ebrated with the usual ceremonies, the whole force embarked, and set sail 
from Cape St. Antonio for Yucatan February 18, 1519. 

A storm, violent as tropical tempests are apt to be, overtook them before 
they had sailed many leagues; and the vessels were scattered. Cortes found 
it necessary to linger a little behind the others to assist one which had been 
partly disabled ; and the smaller vessels reached the island of Cozumel before 
the flag-ship. 

Arrived there, he found that Alvarado had improved the opportunity by 
rifling the temples of their ornaments, and frightening the natives so that 
they fled hastily to the dense forests of the interior. This was directly against 
the orders which Cortes had given; for it was his original plan to treat the 
Indians with great kindness. Alvarado was severely and publicly reprimanded, 
and every effort made to reassure the frightened natives. They were finally 
convinced of the friendliness of the strangers, and returned to trade with 
them. 

About eight years before this time, a vessel fi'om the colony of Darien had 
been wrecked off the coast of what is now Central America, and the few who 
escaped the fury of the elements were captured by the Indians. Some of 
them were killed and eaten, the Spaniards in the settlements had heard ; others 
were still in captivity among the savages. To find these unfortunate creatures, 
if they still lived, was one of the first objects of Cortes; and he dispatched 
one of his officers, with two brigantines, to the opposite coast of Yucatan, to 
see if anything could be learned about them there; since the natives of Coz- 
umel gave him to understand that these captives were likely to be found on 
that coast. Ordaz, the officer to whom this was intrusted, was instructed to 
remain there eight days for this purpose. 

Much to the surprise of Cortes and his men, they found in the temple which 
Alvarado had rifled a cross, built of stone and lime. On inquiring the mean- 
ing of this symbol, they were told that it was the sign for the god of rain. 
They could not understand how a heathen people should have, as a religious 
symbol, that same emblem which is the most sacred to Christians; nor have 
later scientists been able to solve the puzzle. It formed a starting-point, how- 
ever, for the priest who endeavored to convert these worshipers of the rain- 
god's cross to the religion of the Cross; for this expedition, like so many 
others of the time and section, partook largely of the character of a crusade. 
It was a Christian duty to convert the Indians ; and if they could not be per- 
suaded to embrace the religion of the white men, force must be employed. 

Two priests, Juan Diaz and Bartolome de Olmedo, had accompanied the 
expedition, for the double purpose of ministering to the spiritual needs of 
the Spaniards and preaching to the Indians. They now began to exert all 
their eloquence upon these benighted heathen; and tried to pursuade them 



320 CORTES, THE CONQUEROR OF MEXICO. 

to permit their idols to be thrown down and destroyed. Naturally, the na- 
tives, who had worshii)cd these gods all their lives, and had never heard of 
the white man's God until within the past week, were not ready to consent 
to this. Cortes, as usual, was prompt to act. The arguments of the priests 
were not immediately successful, but he would wait for nothing more. He 
ordered the great idols to be tlirown down and dragged out of the temples, 
where a shrine to the Virgin and Child was erected instead. 

After mass had been performed at the altar thus suddenly erected, the ar-{ 
guments of the priests Avere renewed; and the natives, seeing that their god^ 
did not avenge the insults which had been offered them, consented to em- 
brace Christianity. This was reckoned a great triumph for the faith; al- 
though it is doubtful whether the interpreter half understood the instruc- 
tions wliich he was required to translate, and certain that the Indians who 
thus professed Christianity did not have any idea of the faith which they 
were accepting. 

Ordaz returned without tidings of the captives, and Cortes set sail. But a 
leak in one of the vessels compelled them to return to the same port. While 
they were lying at anchor here, a canoe was seen approaching the ships from 
the main land. One of the men in it, as he came within speaking distance, 
hailed them in broken Spanish, asking if he were among Christians. "When 
the answer was given, he fell upon his knees and gave thanks for his deliv- 
erance. It was one of the long-sought captives, Jeronimo de Aguilar. 

Cortes had directed Ordaz to offer large ransoms for the captives, to be 
paid in beads, hawks' bells and such other trinkets of European manufac- 
ture as the Indians especially valued. Aguilar was a favored servant of a 
chief far in the interior; and the news of this offer had not reached him in 
time for him to get to the coast before Ordaz sailed to rejoin his command- 
er. It was only after considerable persuasion, indeed, and many praises of 
the beads and bells to be obtained as a ransom, that the chief would consent 
to give him up. 

Had the fleet not returned to Conzumel for repairs, Aguilar must have 
missed his countrymen entirely. This would have been a serious loss to 
Cortes, since the captive, who had been educated as a priest, had taken ad- 
vantage of his long residence among the Indians to learn the various dia- 
lects which were spoken, and now served as an intelligent, trustworthy in- 
terpreter; in which capacity his services were invaluable. 

Having repaired the ships, they sailed again March 4; and, doubling (^ape 
Catoche, reached the mouth of the Rio de Tabasca. 

He resolved to ascend this stream; but the natives seemed determined to 
prevent it. Cortes proclaimed, through his interpreter, that he desired only 
a free passage for his men; but the Indians, who had gathered in great num- 
bers, their canoes lining the banks of the river, answered only with shouts 



CORTES, THK CONQUEROR 0F MEXICO. 321 

and with volleys of arrows. Thus defied, Cortes crossed the river from the 
ishiud where he had anchored, in the very face of the enemy; the boats were 
brought alongside the canoes, and a desperate struggle was waged. Gradu- 
ally the whites forced the Indians back to land; but this was hardly an ad- 
vantage to the assailants; for the natives found support there from their 
friends who showered darts, arrows and blazing brands upon the Spaniards, 
trying hard to maintain their footing on the soft ooze of the shore, while 
battling with those whom they had driven from the river. 

"Strike at the Chief!" called one Indian to another, noting the careless- 
ness with which Cortes exposed himself to their weapons, placing himself 
ever in the front of the fight ; and the cry was caught up and re-echoed from 
side to side. 

But when the Spaniards had got a footing on the bank, and opened fire 
with their arquebuses, the natives were glad to reti'eat behind a hastily con- 
structed breastwork of timber. The whites, encouraged by their success, 
assaulted this rampart with renewed vigor; and the Indians again retreated, 
this time to their palisaded town, Tabasca. But this was carried by a de- 
tei'mined attack; and the natives were glad to escape with their lives into the 
surrounding forests. 

Cortes took possession of this town with due solemnity, in the name of the 
Most Catholic King, and took up his quarters in the chief temple; carefully 
posting guards about the town, to ensure against a surprise by the Indians. 
The next morning, two parties were sent out to reconnoiter. One of these 
had not gone a league before it was attacked by the Indians in force, and 
obliged to retreat to the town. Cortes now saw that he had made a mistake 
in attempting to explore this river, instead of going straight to his propose* 
destination ; but to retreat now would be to dishearten his own men with the 
sense of being beaten at the outset, and enable his enemies to send messen- 
gers to announce that he was coming, but might easily be driven back by de- 
termined opposition. 

He accordingly called his officers together, and made preparation to give 
battle the next day. The wounded were sent back to the ships, all others 
ordered to the camp. The horses were all brought on shore, with six of the 
heavy guns. Mesa, who had some experience as an engineer, was put in 
charge of the cannon ; we can hardly dignify him with the title of command- 
er of the artillery. The infantry was put under the direction of Ordaz, while 
Cortes himself led the cavalry, consisting of sixteen horsemen. 

All night long, Cortes, restless with the sense of responsibility, went the 
rounds of his camp, visiting the sentinels to observe that no one fell asleep 
upon his post, and seeing that every possible preparation for the conflict had 
been made as ordered. 

iMorning dawned, and the soldiers assembled at the celebration of mass. It 
■-•1 



ii2-2 tOKTKS, TIIK CONQUEROR OF MKXICO. 

was March l'.'), Lady-day, according to the reckoning of churchmen. In- 
fantry and artillery were to march upon the enemy, encampecl upon the 
plain of Ceutla, direct; while the little force of cavalry attacked ujion the 
flank or rear, as oi)portunity might offer. 

The country was dotted with corn-fields, irrigated by means of canals and 
reservoirs; so that their advance was slow and difficult. Many of them were 
severely wounded by the arrows of the enemy, before^ they could reach a 
footing firm enough to permit them to form in line of battle, and discharge 
their own missiles at the foe. The Indians, in dense masses, were swept 
down at every discharge of the guns; but they closed up the ranks, throw- 
ing up dust and leaves to hide the number of the slain from the assailants, 
and pressed so close upon the Spaniards that the latter hardly had room to 
manage their guns. 

Where was the cavalry? Retarded beyond his expectations by the nature 
of the ground, Cortes did not reach the field of battle for an hour after the 
tight had begun. When he arrived, the Indians were so busily engaged with 
the enemy in front that they did not perceive his apjiroach. 

"Santiago and San Pedro!" rang out the war-cry; and the wearied in- 
fantry, scarcely able to hold their own against the overwhelming nujsses of 
the foe in spite of all the advantage that their guns gave them, knew that 
help had come. The startled Iiulians turned to look in the direction of the 
cry, and saw monstrous creatures, such as they had never seen before, rush- 
ing upon them; these dreadful beings had four feet and two arms each; the 
upper part of the body seemed to be covered with a glittering shell; and a 
sharp and glittering weapon was aimed directly at their faces. Such was the 
idea which the Indians entertained of the mail-clad cavaliers, mounted on 
horses protected by steel plates, and each bearing a lance which he had been 
ordered to direct at the faces of the enemy; for the ignorant natives, Avho 
had never seen a horse, supposed that horse and rider were one creature. 

They could face men, even when armed with thunder aiul lightning, as the 
possessors of fire-arms seemed to be; but these dreadful monsters were a 
thousand times worse; a panic seized them, and they, who had threatened to 
overwhelm the force of five hundred soldiers with half a dozen cannon, fled 
in wild terror before sixteen horsemen. 

Cortes did not attempt to pursuethem. Content with the victory, he drew 
his men off to a neighboring copse, and there they offered up thanksgivings 
for the victory which had been given them. To the devout Spaniards, it 
seemed that Heaven nmst indeed have fought on their side, or they could 
never have conquered such a horde of the foe; and some of them positively 
declared that Santiago — the j^atron saint of Spain — mounted on his good gray 
horse, was plainly to lie seen among the horsemen, dealing such blows as had 
given bin) rank of old among the Seven Champions of Christendom. 



CORTKS. THK CONQUEROR OF MEXICO. 



323 



Some of the Indians who had been taken prisoners were sent as messen- 
gers to their countrymen, with the promise that Cortes would overlook the 
past, if they would submit to him at once; but that otherwise he would put 
every living creature in the land to the sword. The natives hastened to obey 
liis demand; and brought such tokens of submission as they thought most 
acceptable. An imposing religious ceremonial was arranged to impress their 
simple minds, and the force, embarking, departed from the conquered 
countrv. 




Mexican Indians Brincixg Gifts to Cortes. 
Among the articles which they had brought as gifts, or had offered in trade 
iifter confidence had been established, were some small ornaments of gold. 



324 rORTKS, THE rONQtIEROR OF MKXICI). 

The S|)aiii;irii.s had eaporly questioned Ihem as to the source; of lliis precious 
metal, and were told that it had been l)roujrht from the west, from .Mexico; 
and this information did much to hasten their departure. 

It was Palm Sunday when they embarked; and the next Thursday they 
reached the island of San Juan de Ulua, which had been visited and named 
by Grijalva. Here they were visited by Indians, who brou-zht presents of 
fruits, flowers, and gold ornaments. But Aguilar, who had been useful as an 
interpreter farther to the southeast, was here unable to understand the lang- 
uage. Fortunately, a girl, who had been one of twenty young female slaves 
presented by the submissive Tabascansto the conquerors, was familiar enough 
with the Mayan dialects, which Aguilar spoke, and with the Aztec, hcrnativc 
tongue, to translate to the priest, who in turn rendered the speech into the 
Castilian language to Cortes. It was only by this round-about means, that 
Cortes was able to communicate with the natives. 

He learned from them that the country was ruled by a great monarch, 
whose name is usually rendered as Montezuma; but he dwtilt on the high 
plains, more than two hundred miles inland; their province was ruled by one 
of his great nobles, who lived but twenty-live miles away. They also informed 
him that in the interior there was plenty of gold. 

The next day, Friday, April 21, he landed at the point where the city of 
Vera Cruz now stands. His guns were mounted on the small sand-hills, and 
the troops employed in cutting down trees and bushes in order to secure a 
shelter from the weather. In this work they received much assistance from 
the natives, who not only helped them with the labor, but brought mats and 
cotton carpets for their huts. 

While this was being done, a great number of the natives, out of curiosity, 
visited the camp, bringing with them food of all kinds, and such ornaments 
as they possessed, which they gave away, or offered in exchange for the trink- 
ets of the Spaniards. From these Cortes learned that Teuhtlile, the governor 
of the district, proposed to visit him the next day. 

The expected guest came before noon, and was received with much cere- 
mony, and entertained with an ample collation. He brought rich presents, 
which gave the Spaniards a great idea both of the wealth of the country and 
the skill of its workmen; while the readiness with which some of his attend- 
ants depicted the appearance of the " water-houses," the horses, arms, and 
costumes of the Spaniards, filled them with admiring wonder. This picture- 
writing was intended to be transmitted to Montezuma, as a faithful report of 
the strangers and all concerning them. 

Cortes had demanded to see this monarch at once; and had made great 
boasts of the power and greatness of his own king. Teuhtlile, however, 
coolly remarked that he was glad to hear that there was another monarch as 
great as Montezuma, and firmly insisted that Cortes must remain where he 



CORTES, THE fONQUEUOR OK MEXICO. 325 

was until messengers could be sent fo inform IMontezuma of his urri\ al, and 
learn the ruler's pleasure concerning him. 

Montezuma was a great soldier and statesman ; but he had assumed such 
pomp in his style of living as Mexico had never seen; and the expense of 
maintaining this state, together with the enormous cost of the wars which he 
waged, caused him to levy very heavy taxes. This was of itself enough to 
make him unpopular. But the severity with which he caused justice to be 
administered, and the arrogance of his manner, combined to render him the 
object of fear, mingled with dislike. 

Seven or eight days after the visit of Teuhtlile, the envoys from Montezuma 
arrived at the camp of Cortes. They brought presents which fully justified 
all the invader's dreams of their master's wealth. Helmets and shields orna- 
mented with plates of gold, necklaces and bracelets composed of the same 
metal, and set with beautifully worked precious stones; imitations of birds 
and animals in gold and silver; garments, curtains and coverlets of cotton 
fine as silk, and richly embroidered with feathers; and, above all, two im- 
mense disks, "as large as carriage wheels," one of silver, the other of gold, 
skillfully carved with various devices; this gold disk alone was worth more 
than two hundred thousand dollars in United States money of the present 
day, if we consider only the weight of the metal which it contained; and 
those who saw these articles after they were taken to Spain, where they could 
examine them at their leisure and judge of them coolly, declared that the 
beauty of the workmanship more than doubled the value of the rich 
materials. 

But Montezuma declined, through his envoys, to receive Cortes and his 
followers at his capital; it was too far away, he said, and the journey thither 
was too full of difficulties and dangers. He advised the strangers to depart 
with the gifts that he sent as a proof of his friendly disposition. 

But the Spanish nation had been dreaming of a monarch who could offer 
such gifts as these ever since the Santa Maria and her consorts set sail from 
Palos, that August day in 1492; and Cortes replied that he could not present 
himself before his own sovereign without having accomplished the object of 
his mission, which was to see Montezuma; and declared that having come 
two thousand leagues already, he had no fears regarding the short journey 
which still lay before him. With this message, he sent a gift as far inferior 
to that which he had received as his resources were inferior to those of 
Montezuma. 

But the Indian monarch again forbade Cortes to approach his capital, and 
requested him to return to his own country without farther delay. Turning 
to his officers, Cortes remarked: — 

"This is a rich and powerful prince indeed; yet it shall go hard but we 
will pay him a visit in his capital!" 



326 CORTES, THE CONQUEROK OK MEXICO. 

The interview ended with an attempt, on the part of the Spaniards, to ex- 
plain their religion to the envoys; but the latter did not seoni to be favorably 
impressed with anything that the strangers had to say. They wiliidrew; and 
the next morning saw every native hut whirh had been l)uilt near the camp 
of the Spaniards, deserted. This meant that (fortes was cut off from all sup- 
plies, except such as were contained in his ships. 

An expedition under Montejo had been sent to explore the coast, to see if 
there was any more favorable situation for a camp a little farther north. 
Having gone as far as Panuco, they returned, and reportcnl that they had met 
with no success; the whole coast was low, marshy, hot, and unhealthful. 
Only one place at all suitable had been found; and to that Cortes determined 
to remove his forces. 

But in the meantime his men were becoming dissatisfied; thirty of their 
number had died since landing; and they desired to return to Cuba with such 
treasure as they had already secured. The personal friends of Cortes tried 
to reason with them, and pointed out how nmch more would be gained should 
they found a colony here. Cortes had no authority from Velasquez to found 
such a colony, they answered; the others admitted the truth of this assertion, 
butretorteil that the interests of the sovereign, to be considered before the 
commands of Velasquez, denumded that such a colony should be planted. 
Still the dissatisfied soldiers persisted that it was their duty to return to 
Cuba, for further orders from Velasquez. 

Cortes understood, better than his friends, how to deal with them. Learn- 
ing what their demands were, he gave oi'ders that the troops were to hold 
themselves in readiness to embark atone*-, as the ships were to sail for Cuba 
without farther delay. It may be thought that this order would give great 
satisfaction to those who had been insistingon following this course; nothing 
of the kind; they veered like a weathercock when the wind changes, and de- 
manded in the interests of the sovereign that a colony should be founded. 
If he refused, they told him, they would protest against his conduct as dis- 
loyal to the Emperor. 

Cortes received this protest as seriously as if he had not purposely taken 
the best means to produce it ; and promised to consider the matter and give 
them an answer the next day. Having allowed this time to pass, he informed 
them that he would accede to their demands, and plant a colony there in the 
mamo of the sovereigns of Spain. He nominated the magistrates who were 
to govern the new settlement, to which he gave the name of Villa Rica de 
Vera Cruz — "The Rich City of the True Cross." The oflicials being duly 
sworn, Cortes formally resigned into their hands the authority which he had 
received from Velasfjuez; and after a show of deliberation on their part, 
was invested with supreme civil and military jurisdiction, with the titles of 
Captain-General and Chief-Justice of the colony. 



CORTES, THE CONQUEROR OF MEXICO. 327 

Among his followers, there were some adherents of Velasquez, who had, 
all along, acted somewhat like spies for the governor, and had indeed been 
sent with Cortes for that purpose. These men now protested warmly against 
what had been done; Cortes replied by putting the chief men among them 
in irons, and confining them on board the vessels, while their adherents were 
busily employed in collecting provisions for the colony. This punishment, 
however, did not last very long; for such a wonderful power of fascination 
did the man possess, that these very persons who had been employed by his 
enemy to watch and check him soon gave in their adhesion to the new gov- 
ernment, and became the most devoted followers of Cortes himself. 

Just before the half-revolt of the troops which had led to the formation of 
the colony, Cortes had been visited by live Indians, whose appearance was 
different from that of the Mexicans. From them he learned that Monte- 
zuma was not the unquestioned lord of this mighty empire, as he had sup- 
posed; there were provinces, recently conquered and heavily oppressed by 
taxation, which would be only too willing to throw off his yoke. The country 
of the Totonacs was one of these; and they had come from its chief town, 
Cempoalla, to request the strangers of whose coming they had heard to visit 
that capital. 

The empire of Montezuma, as a fact, was beset with enemies from without 
and within; for, in addition to the rebellious feeling in such provinces as that 
of the Totonacs, the Tezcucans and the Tlascalans were unconquered ene- 
mies. But this was the first hint that Cortes had received that Mexico — using 
the term in the sense in which it is used to-day — was not a single state, as 
loyal to Montezuma as Castile to Charles V. 

Cortes, having settled all discords in the colony, resolved to march at the 
head of his troops to Cempoalla. He sent his heavy guns on board the ships, 
which were ordered to coast as far north as the point where the new colony 
was to be situated. 

Cortes was received with due ceremony at Cempoalla; but the chief of the 
Totonacs, although ready enough to inveigh against Montezuma, refusf^d to 
consider seriously any plan of revolt; plainly showing the Spanish chieftain 
how great was the fear which the Emperor's subjects entertained of him. 
Cortes left Cempoalla the next day for Chiahuitztla, eight leagues away, the 
Totonac town nearwhich the new colony was to be situated. He was accom- 
panied by the Totonac ruler, and with him entered into a conference with the 
principal men. 

While thus engaged, he noticed that five men, richly clad and attended by 
a considerable number, entered the market-place. He inquired who they 
were, and received the answer that they were the Aztec nobles sent by Mon- 
tezuma to collect the tribute which he compelled the Totonacs to pay him. 
Cortes at first advised and then demanded that the Totonacs should refuse to 



328 CORTES, THE CONQUEROR OF MEXICO. 

comply with these demands, and seize and iniprisoii the collectors of the 
revenue. 

This was done ; but that night he secretly caused two of them to be released 
and brought before him; employing them as messengers to Montezuma, to 
say that the Spaniards still entertained a great regard for him, although he 
would have left them to perish with hunger. The men were enabled to escape 
the Totonacs; and the other prisoners, whom the enraged captors designed 
to sacrifice, were saved by the intervention of Cortes, who assisted them se- 
cretly, as in the case of the first two. 

Montezuma heard of the treatment which his envoys had experienced, and 
sent an embassy to treat with Cortes on friendly terms. The fact that he 
should send such messengers impressed the Totonacs with great wonder; for 
this stranger had means of disarming even the auger of the great ruler whom 
all feared. They little guessed the treachery of which Cortes had been 
guilty. 

But the Spaniards had determined that the natives should l)e converted to 
Christianity; and finding them indifferent, he determined to use force. One 
of their temples was seized, the idols rolled down the great steps, hewn to 
pieces, and burned; while the temple itself, thoroughly cleansed and decked 
with flowers, having an altar erected in it, with an. image of the Virgin above 
it, was made the scene of a solemn celebration of mass. This decided action 
produced the expected results; the Indians resolved that gods that could 
not avenge these insults to their own images and temples were unworthy of 
reverence, and accepted the faith of the strangers. 

Before Cortes set out for the capital, there arrived a Spanish vessel, under 
the command of an adventurer named Saucedo, having on board twelve sol- 
diers and two horses. This vessel brought the news that Velascjuez had late- 
ly received a warrant from the Emperor to establish a colony in the country 
which his subordinates had latelj' explored. Cortes saw that this was likely 
to be the means of his ruin if he did not act promptly. He resolved to send 
a vessel at once to Spain, reporting to the sovereign the extent of his discov- 
eries and conquests, and offering such a present as should convince the Em- 
peror of their value. According to custom, the sovereign was entitled to 
one-fifth of all that was secured; the general to the same proportion; while 
the remainder was divided among his ofiicers and soldiers. But Cortes 
wished to impress the Empero.' with a great idea of the value of his services; 
he accordingly resolved to send, in addition to the royal fifth, his own share 
of the booty; and he actually persuaded his followers, thirsting after gold 
as they were, to relinquish their own claims, and permit the entire amount 
of Montezuma's gifts to be sent to Spain. 

With this magnificent tribute went a letter from Cortes, giving a full ac- 
count of what he had done, and of the condition of affairs, so far as he knew 



COKTES, THE CONQUEKOK OF MEXICO. 329 

them, in Mexico ; and stating his difficulties with Velasquez, narrated how the 
army had requested him to form a colony. With this letter went one from 
the magistrates of the new Villa Rica de Vera Cruz, asking that the nomina- 
tion of Cortes might be confirmed by royal authority; and another from the 
citizen-soldiers of the colony making the same request. 

Two cavaliers were selected to deliver these letters ; and one of the best of 
the ships, manned by fifteen sailors, and commanded by the most skillful pilot, 
was set aside to convey them across the Atlantic. In direct defiance of the 
orders of Cortes, they lauded on the coast of Cuba, in order to allow one of 
his cavaliers to visit his plantation. By this means Velasquez heard full par- 
ticulars of what had been done; he sent a vessel in chase; he sent complaints 
to llispaniola; and he dispatched indignant letters to Spain. The chase 
proved vain; he got no satisfaction from Hispaniola; and, too impatient to 
wait until he could hear from Spain, he fitted out another squadron which 
he intended should be far superior to that of Cortes. But of course the prep- 
aration of such a fleet occupied many months, so that Cortes felt none of the 
immediate effects of Velasquez' anger. 

While these things were going on, there was mutiny and conspiracy in the 
camp on the Mexican shore. Some of the more timid and less determined 
souls had begun to be fearful regarding the result of the expedition into the 
interior; and, under the leadership of .l^o priest, Juan Diaz, had planned to 
seize one of the ships, make the best of their way to Cuba, and report to 
Velasquez how matters stood. Provisions and water were got aboard with 
such secrecy that Cortes and his friends suspected nothing; and things went 
on all right for the conspirators until the very night that they were to sail. 
Then, one of their number, too unstable to stick to any party, as it seemed, 
went to the leader and betrayed the counsel of his companions. They were 
all arrested at once; nor was the trial long delayed. Two of the ringleaders 
were condemned to death; the pilot was sentenced to lose his feet; several 
others were to be whipped ; while the pi-iest, in accordance with the custom 
of the times, claimed " benefit of clergy," and thus escaped all punishment. 

" Would that I had never learned to write! "exclaimed Cortes, as he signed 
the death-warrants. 

The situation was a serious one. As long as there was a possibility of re- 
treat, there would be some anxious to avail themselves of it. Cortes, bold 
and prompt as ever, determined that there should be no such possibility. 
He communicated his plans to a few of his friends, and arranged for a little 
comedy, in which he was to play the leading role. The pilots were persuaded 
to make a report, such as suited his purpose, of the condition of the ships. 
The vessels, they said, were grievously racked by the heavy gales which they 
had experienced, and the worms had eaten into their sides and bottoms so 
that it was only with difficulty that they could be kept afloat. 



CORTES, THE CONQUEHOR OF MEXICO. 331 

Cortes received this report with well-acted surprise and anxiety. 

" If it be so," he exclaimed, " we must make the best of it. The will of 
Heaven be done! " 

Thus resigning himself to the divine order, he gave command that five of 
the worst of the vessels should be dismantled, the cordage, sails, iron, and 
everything else that was movable, brought on shore, and the vessels them- 
selves bo sunk. 

This excited no suspicion, for the soldiers were well aware of the amount 
of damage that can be done to a ship by worms in the tropical seas. The 
jjilots were ordered to inspect the remaining vessels, five in number; and on 
a report similar to the first, four of these suffered the same fate. Then the 
soldiers saw what had been done. Their commander had purposely cut the 
only thread of hope by which they were united to their own country. Only 
one small vessel remained, and they were in a hostile country, a mere hand- 
ful in the midst of untold thousands of the enemy. 

Whatever might be their idea of the danger in which they stood from the 
natives, there can be but one opinion of the position in which Cortes hi;d 
placed himself. He stood virtually alone against the multitude, who looked 
upon him as a butcher who had led them like cattle to be slaughtered in the 
shambles. But he never flinched. Calling them together, he addressed them 
in words which have been preserved for us by a native historian. He first 
bade them remember that the great loss fell upon him, since the ships were 
all that he possessed in the world. Their destruction added a hundred men 
to the available force, since that was the number required to man the rotten 
hulks. In their present expedition, he said, they would not need the fleet if 
they succeeded, while if they failed they would be too far in the interior to 
make use of it. But they would not fail if they resumed their former con 
fidence in themselves and in him. 

" As for me, I have chosen my part. I will remain here, while there is 
one to bear me company. If there be any so craven as to shrink from sharing 
the dangers of our glorious enterprise, let him go home, in God's name. 
There is still one vessel left. Let them take that and return to Cuba. They 
can tell there how they have deserted their commander and their comrades, 
and patiently wait until we return loaded with the spoil of the Aztecs." 

As they listened, all their fears died away; and scarcely had they heard his 
last words before the shouts rang out : — 

"To Mexico! To Mexico!" 

The force that be chose for the expedition consisted of four hundred foot 
soldiers, fifteen mounted men, seven pieces of artillery, thirteen hundred In- 
dian Avarriors, a thousand Indian porters to transport the cannon and bag- 
gage, and forty of the principal men of the Totonacs as hostages, guides and 
advisers. The others of the Spanish force were left at Vera Cruz. 



332 COKTE8, TllK CONgUEROK Ol' MEXICO. 

August 16, 15iy, they set out on their march, and at the close of the second 
day liJid passed the lowland of the coast, ascended half the slope of the 
table-land, and reached Jalapa. As they continued the ascent they experi- 
enced a great change of climate, not unwelcome to the Si)aniard8, clad in 
mail, or in thick jackets of quilted cotton; but beneath which the scantily 
clad Indians, accustomed only to the warm climate of the coast, sank, per- 
ishing with the cold. Several of them actually died on the road. 

Arrived at the summit of the slope, they came to a populous city, com- 
manded by a vassal of Montezuma. From this official they received the in- 
formation that the Mexican ruler had thirty great vassals, each of whom 
could muster a hundred thousand fighting men ; while more than twenty thous- 
and captives taken in war were sacrificed each year upon the altar of his 
gods. In proof of this latter assertion, the invaders were referred to a heap 
of skulls of the victims who had been sacrificed in this place; and a follower 
of Cortes, who wrote a history of the expedition, declares that he counted 
one hundred thousand. 

Cortes remained in this place four or five days, to rest his troops. By the 
advice of his Indian allies, he resolved to march to Tlascala before advanc- 
ing upon ^Mexico; as the Tlascalans were constantly at war with the Aztecs, 
and might prove valuable allies. He accordingly turned toward that country, 
and entered its bounds. But he found that he was not to be received with 
open arms. The Tlascalans were by no means sure of his sincerity; they 
knew that he had received the envoys of Montezuma, and accepted his pres- 
ents; and they did not fully believe that he was marching against that prince. 
They therefore decided that a division of their army should fall upon the 
Spaniards as they entered the country; if the soldiers repelled them, well 
and good; if not, the government could disown the action of its army. 

Two battles followed, as a consequence of this plan; the first, compara- 
tively unimportant; although, much to Cortes' anxiety, two of his horses 
were slain, thus showing the Indians that these animals were subject to death. 
The second was a bloody battle, which lasted all day; and in which the for- 
tunes of the two opposing armies were so nearly equal that the Spaniards 
could hardly claim a victory. The Tlascalans, however, retreated at evening, 
but in such good order as to call forth the praise of their enemies. 

Two messengers were sent to the Tlascalan capital, to propose a cessation 
of hostilities and a friendly visit from Cortes. They were stopped on the 
road by thegencral who had led the forces in the late battles, and sent back with 
the message that " the Spaniards might pass on as soon as they chose to Tlas- 
cala; and, when they reached it, their flesh would be hewn from their bones, 
for a sacrifice to the gods. If they preferred to remain in their own quarters, 
he would pay them a visit there the next day." 

Fearing the result both upon his own men and the enemy should he simply 



CORTKS, TlIK COXgUEKOR OK MEXICO. 333 

awiiit till attack, Cortes resolved tu march out and meet the enemy in the 
tiehl. It was the 5th of September when he reviewed his troops, giving them 
a few brief directions; and then giving the order to march. 

They had scarcely gone half a mile before they came in sight of the enemy, 
whose numbers Cortes estimates as one hundred and iifty thousand men. 
Again, after a determined and bloody conflict, the TUiscalans withdrew, 
leaving the Spaniards in possession of the field; and again Cortes .sent mes- 
sengers to the capital. 

The Government — for Tlascala was a republic — was uncertain wiiat answer 
toretui-n. From the terrible effect of the fire-arms, the councillors were in- 
clined to think that the Spaniards were more than human; and the employ- 
ment of horses in battle bore this out. If they were men, it would be well 
to keep on fighting until they were driven back; but if they were gods, who 
could hope to contend against them? In this dilemma, they consulted the 
priests; who returned the answer that the whites were not gods, but were 
the children of the Sun, deriving strength and power from his light. Should 
they be attacked by night, they would be more easily conquered. 

But Cortes was too cautious to be taken by surprise; and the night chosen 
for the attack was illuminated by the full moon. One of the sentries espied 
the Indians cautiously advancing; he gave the alarm; the Spaniards, who 
slept with their arms by their sides, were instantly on the alert; but gave no 
sign of their being awake. The Indians continued to advance upon what they 
thought the sleeping camp, until suddenly Cortes gave the signal, and his 
whole force dashed upon them. The assailants were panic-stricken; and fled 
after giving but one volley of arrows. 

The next day Cortes again sent embassadors to the capital, with a letter in 
one hand, an arrow in the other; promising forgetfulness of the past if they 
would submit, but threatening entire destruction should they still resist. The 
Tlascalaus had tried everything, and could now do nothing but submit; four 
caciques were accordingly entrusted with a peaceful mission to the Spanish 
camp, with orders to stop by the way at the Tlascalan camp, and inform the 
commander of their mission, requiring him to abstain from fighting and fur- 
nish the white men with all the provisions which they might require. 

But the general of the Tlascalans had no idea of thus yielding; he per- 
suaded the embassadors to remain in his camp; and thus Cortes was kept in 
ignorance of the efforts which the Tlascalans had made to comply with his 
demands. But he was not inactive. Although suffering from an attack of 
fever, he was constantly in the saddle, scouring the country at the head of 
his little body of cavalry; saying to his followers, when, chilled to the bone 
by the severe winds, they would have returned to camp: — 

" We fight under the banner of the Cross; God is stronger than nature." 

Indeed, it must never be forgotten that however cruel they may have been. 



334 coRTKs, THE coNyiEROR OF irexico. 

or tyrannical afler the fighting was over, these old Spaniards considered them- 
selves as Hiihtinf: for Christianity; and regarded any severity toward tlie foe 
as pardonable as long as he refused to accept the religion of the Prince of 
Peace. 

While Cortes was thus in the saddle, daring fatigue and hardship, the men 
in camp wcregiving vent to expressions of discontent. When lu^ returned, 
they remonstrated with him on the folly of persisting in the- effoit to reach 
Mexico. All were wounded, more than fifty had perished since leaving the 
coast, and, between fighting and keeping guard, they bad no rest, day or night. 
It was true they had no fleet in which to sail to Cuba; but they could fortify 
themselves on the coast until the one remaining vessel could be sent to the 
island for the necessary number of ships. 

Cortes answered by acknowledging the truth of all their complaints. He 
knew just what hardships they had endured, for he had shared them all. But 
he bade them remember that they were fighting for the Cross. He told them 
further, that, should they retreat, the now van(juished Tlascalans would fall 
upon them as they went, and followthem to the coast until they could destroy 
the men who had so nearly destroyed the armies of Tlascala. The Totonacs, 
too, would join against them when they became the object of contempt by 
fleeing. 

Still the soldiers were not convinced, and they gathered about their general 
with repetitions of their arguments. He saw that nothing was to be gained 
by arguing with them, and imi)atiently quoted a verse from an old Spanish 
song, with which they w-ere all familiar, and which may be thus rendered: — 

" ' Twere better die with honor 
Tbaa live to be disgraced." 

The song was caught up by his listeners, and the few who remained discon- 
tented slunk back to their quarters, silenced, if not convinced. 

A small body of Tlascalans arrived the next morning, saying that the gen- 
eral had sent them to ask for terms of j)eace. It was discovered, however, 
that they were spies; and Cortes, having had their hands cut off, sent them 
back with the message: — 

" Let the Tlascalans come by day or l)y night, they will find the Spaniards 
ready for them." 

The general saw with dismay that his plans had failed; and his soldiers 
looked with more awe than ever on an enemy who could read their very 
thoughts. It was useless to resist longer; and. putting himself at the head of 
his army, sending the four envoys from the government in advance, the Tlas- 
calan leader submitted to the strangers. 

His submission was received by Cortes with respect for the bravo soldier; 
and the bloody war was ended. While the Tlascalans were yet in the camp, 
embassadors came from Montezuma, who had kept himself informed of the 



CORTES, THE CONQUEROR OF MEXICO. 33o 

progress of the Spaniards, and had hoped that they would be defeated and 
driven bade by the Tlascalans, whose courage he knew well. The news that 
the strangers had conquered these formidable enemies, filled him with dismay ; 
there were many prophecies of strangers who should come and conquer and 
rule over Mexico; and, while these prophecies indicated no special time, every- 
thing pointed to the present as the time for their fulfillment. The bolder 
priests, indeed, had admitted to him that his own reign was to end in the 
downfall of his dynasty; and Montezuma began to fear that there was no way 
of averting the doom. 

The embassadors, having presented the rich gifts which they brought, and 
congratulated Cortes on his victories, expressed their master's regret that 
they could not be received in his capital, as they would there be exposed to 
such danger from an unruly populace. Montezuma, accustomed to see his 
lightest wish regarded as law, had thought that this would be sufficient to 
prevent their coming; and so, t()0, thought the Indians. 

Cortes gave an answer which has not been preserved; but we may be sure 
that he showed no such blind respect for the Indian ruler s wish. The en- 
voys then offered, in their master's name, to pay tribute to the master of 
Cortes, if the Spaniards would cease to press forward to the city of Mexico. 
This showed Cortes more clearly than ever that the stories- he had heard 
about the impregnable defences of the city were not true ; and that the vast 
treasures which Montezuma had accumulated were protected ])y no guard 
strong enough to stop his handful of avaricious Spaniards. 

Before marching upon the Aztec city, however, Cortes visited the capital 
of the Tlascalans, where he was entertained with such honors as a conqueror 
might expect. He was anxious to convert his late foes to Christianity, and 
had only been delayed in the execution of this purpose by the persuasions of 
Father Olmeda, who did not approve of forced conversions. Cortes consid- 
ered that, the war over, the time for presenting the doctrines of Christianity 
to the Tlascalans had come. It was done ; but although the Indians listened 
with respect, and were easily persuaded to telerate the religion of the Span- 
iards, it was not accepted as generally as Cortes had expected. 

While thus engaged, another embassy from Montezuma arrived. They 
came, this time, with an invitation to Mexico; suggesting that he take the 
route by the city of Cholula, where preparations had been made for enter- 
taining him and his army. 

The Tlascalans protested against accepting this invitation; telling Cortes 
that the Emperor's professions were hollow, and his friendships false. Cho- 
lula, unlike other cities at even a greater distance from Tlascala, had sent no 
messengers to Cortes, to testify its good-will and offer allegiance to his sov- 
ereigns. 

Cortes recognized the wisdom of their remarks, and sent to demand the 



:vMi 



COKTl'.S, TIIK (^ONCJinCKOK OK MKXKO. 



submission of C'lioliila, whicii, after some delay, was offered in tlie accepta- 
ble form, lint still the Tlascalans were doubtful of theresult, having learned 
that a strong Aztec force was in the ucighborhood of this city, and knowing 
that the Cholulans were treacherous and craftv. 




RriNS OF AZTKC Clvn.lZATlOX. 

Cortes, allliough thus warned, was determined to proceed by way of Cho- 
lula; had he guessed the special interest which Cholula possessed, his deter- 
mination would not have been altered. For hero was the holy city of the 
Aztecs; hero came thousands of pilgrims, asMohammedaus journey to Mecca, 
as Christians journey to Jerusalem. Here was an immense pile of earth and 
masonry, covering forty-four acres, having a space of an acre on the summit 
of the truncated pyramid, where human sacritices were offered to the god 
Quetzalcoatl. lie it was who had dwelt among their forefathers, but had 
gone across the Eastern Ocean long ago; telling them, as he bade them fare- 



COKTKS, 'I'lir, CONgUKUDIt Ol" IMKXICO. KH7 

well, that some time iu the future, men, of white skin and heardod like him- 
self. Mould come from the East to rule over them. 

Notwithstanding the dangers which they prophesied, the Tlascalans were 
not unwilling to accompany Cortes. A hundred thousand men, he says in 
the letter describing this journey, offered themselves as volunteers in his 
expedition; of these he accepted the services of six thousand. 

The city of Cholula was the most remarkable that they had yet seen. Twenty 
thousand buildings were congregated within its walls, while the suburbs con- 
tained as many more. Besides these dwellings, the city contained no less 
than four hundred temples, built, like all Mexican houses of worship, in the 
shape of a pyramid, the sides facing the points of the compass exactly. Here, 
as elsewhere throughout the country, the buildings were remarkable for their 
solidity, as well as for the beauty of the workmanship displayed in the sculp- 
tures which adorned them ; and the statues were no less remarkable, for their 
spirited conception and execution, than the relievos on the temples and palaces. 
The Spaniards, indeed, as they advanced through the country, from the sea 
to the capital, must have felt that the reality was more wonderful than a ro- 
mance; for here, within so short a distance of the islands inhabited only by 
naked savages, was a race capable of constructing aqueducts and viaducts 
equal to those marvelous engineering triumphs of ancient Rome; of rearing 
pyramids almost as imposing as those of Egypt; and of executing carvings 
and sculptures which would not have shamed the best ages of Greek art. 

Cortes was received with kindness by the Cholulans, but, before he had been 
in their city many days, suspected that there was something wrong. The In- 
dian girl who had served him as interpreter since his departure fromthe coast 
had won the favor of the wife of a cacique. From this friend she received 
an invitation to stay at her house for a number of days; accompanied by a 
hint that it would be well for her to accept it. Pretending to be anxious to 
escape from her Spanish masters, Marina — for that was the interpreter's 
name — managed to get full details of the plans formed by the Cholulans. 
The Spaniards -vere to be attacked as they were leaving the city, and literally 
cut to pieces. Already had stones of great size been gathered on the roofs 
of the houses which they must pass, to be rolled down on their heads; already 
had human sacrifices, mostly of children, been offered in the temples to pro- 
cure the favor of the gods in this effort to massacre their guests. 

Cortes gave no sign to the Cholulans of having discovered their treacherj% 
until all his preparations were made. His guns were placed in position; his 
Tlascalan allies, who had remained outside the city, were ready for the sig- 
nal ; his army was drawn up ready to strike the blow. He called together a 
number of the principal chiefs and their followers, and reproached them with 
their treachery. They were taken completely by surprise, and did not at- 
tempt to defend themselves from the charge ; for they knew not by what 
22 



H3S 



roKTK.S. rilK (•ONQUEROK i)f MF.XKO. 



iiiugio he could Ikivo discovered Ihcir iiiUuilions. While they were thus con- 
founded, C'lutes gave the signal for the attack. There was no battle; it was 
a massacre. The Cholulans were mowed down like grass before the cannon; 
and the Tlascalaus, attacking them in the rear, completed the slaughter. 











TnK Massacre at Cholula. 

The surviving Cholulans were so crushed by the disaster which had befallen 
their city that Cortes no longer had anything to fear fro.m them as an enemy 
in the rear; he decided to push on toward the capital of Montezuma. But 
before he went further, his Cempoallau allies desired to return to their own 
homes ; for they dared not face the anger of the Emperor. Liberally reward- 
ing them, from the gifts of Montezuma, for the services which they had 
already rendered him, Cortes took advantage of their departure toward the 
coast to communicate with his lieutenant at Vera Cruz, telling of his own 
success thus far, and giving various instructions regarding the government of 
the colony. 

During the march, Cortes never once relaxed his watchfulness. Every night 
he went the rounds of the camp, to sec that every man was at his post. On 
one occasion he approached so near asentinel without giving warningtliat the 



eORTES, THE CONQUEROR OF MEXICO. 339 

man leveled his cross-bow and took aim at the shadowy figure, barely distin- 
guishable in the darkness; and had not Cortes, with an exclamation of sur- 
prise, given the watchword of the night, would have sent an arrow to his 
heart. 

Coining to the point where there was a fork in the road, Cortes found that 
one path was obstructed bylr.rge trunks of trees and huge stones. Inquiry re- 
vealed that this had been done by orders of the Aztec ruler; and the envoys 
of Montezuma, who accompanied Cortes, explained that it had been done to 
prevent the Spaniards from taking the road which appeared the most invit- 
ing, but which, farther on, they would find impracticable for the horses. 
Cortes betrayed no suspicion, but commanded the barriers to be cleared away, 
and continued his march by the road M'hich had been obstructed. 

Astheypassed the smoking volcano Popocatapetl, they were regaled by their 
Indian companions with many tales respecting it; one frequent assertion 
being that no man could accomplish the ascent and live. Some of the Span- 
iards expressed a wish to try it; and Cortes encouraged them to do so, will- 
ing to show the Indians that there was nothing which his followers dared not 
try, nothing in which they could not succeed. Ordaz and nine others volun- 
teered for the attempt, and some of the Tlascalans undertook to accompany 
them. The latter, however, turned back long before the summit was reached; 
and, although the others did not reach the verge of the crater — for the vol- 
cano was then active — they brought back with them icicles, to show how far 
they had ascended; and their achievement was i-egarded by the Indians as a 
most wonderful deed of daring. 

When they reached the sunmiit of the general slope, and saw the wide 
valley spread out before them, it seemed to the Spaniards that they were 
about to enter upon a true Earthly Paradise. The destruction of the forests 
and other circumstances have long since changed the face of the country; 
and the city of Mexico, then situated on the bosom of a lake, is now in the 
midst of marshes and flat plains. 

Montezuma had tried to turn the Spaniards back from their march before 
they had gained sight of his capital; knowing that when they saw an easy de- 
scent and smooth road between them and that rich and beautiful city, no- 
thing short of an army could stay them; and such an army as would be re- 
quired to fight these wonderful strangers was not possessed even by the great 
Aztec monarch. His soul was filled with despair when he learned that they 
had surmounted every obstacle, had persevered through all the difficulties, 
had scorned fatigue, and cold, and every other discomfort, in order to reach 
the capital of Anahuac. He shut himself up in his palace, refused food, 
and sought relief in prayer and sacrifice. But no response came from his 
oracles. He next called a council of his principal nobles; but while some 
ad\ised him to receive the Spaniards as embassadors, as they claimed to be. 




Montezuma. 



(340) 



CORTES, THE CONQUEROR OF MEXICO. 341 

others advised him to drive them back at the point of the spear, or die iu the 
defense of his city. Thus variously advised, the decision, as at fii-st, rested 
with himself. 

" Of what use is resistance? " he is said to have asked; " the gods them- 
selves have declared against us. Yet I mourn most for the old and infirm, 
the women and children, too feeble to fight or to fly. For myself and the 
brave men around me, we must bare our breasts to the storm, and meet it as 
we may." 

It was the 8th of November, 1519, when the little army of Spaniards, not 
more than three hundred and fifty men, and their six thousand Tlascalan allies, 
crossed the causeway which connected the island on which the city was built 
with the main land. They passed the Fort of Xoloc, a stronghold about a 
mile and a half from the gates of the city; and finally came to the draw- 
bridge, the last defense outside the walls. 

Montezuma came to meet them, borne in a palanquin resplendent with or- 
naments of gold, and shaded by a canopy of feather-work powdered with 
jewels and fringed with silver. His sandals had soles of gold, and the straps 
which bound them to his feet were fairly crusted with the same metal. His 
embroidered cloak and his sandals were richly adorned with precious stones. 

A palace facing the great temple of the war-god was assigned as a dwelling 
place for the strangers; and Cortes has told us that it was large enough to 
accommodate his whole army. Here he made as complete preparations for 
defense as if he were expecting to be besieged, instead of having just been 
received by Montezuma with all the distinction due his claims as an embassa- 
dor. Cannon were planted and sentinels were stationed; while, to avoid any 
collision between his men and the natives, the soldiers were forbidden, under 
pain of death, to leave their quarters. 

Visits were exchanged between the Emperor and the stranger; and Cortes 
sought to embrace what seemed a golden opportunity to instruct Montezuma 
in the Christian faith. But the Aztec replied that his gods had always fa- 
vored him, and that he saw no good reason to exchange them for the God of 
the white man. Montezuma, in fact, was a priest as well as king; and before 
his accession to the throne on the death of a somewhat distant relative, had 
been constantly in the temples. Later efforts of Cortes to induce the mon- 
arch to embrace the Christian faith, or at least to allow the Cross to be 
l)lanted in conspicuous places, proved no more successful; and Montezuma 
said to him, when such a proposition was made on the occasion of a visit to 
the temples: — 

" These are the gods who have led the Aztecs on to victory ever since they 
were a nation, and who send the seed-time and the harvest in their seasons. 
Had I thought you would have offered them this outrage, I would not have 
admitted you into their presence." 



342 CORTES, TlIK CONQUEROK OF MEXICO. 

As time went on, the position of Cortes became an exceedingly dangerous 
one. He seemed no nearer to conquest tlian he had been wlien he tirst en- 
tered tlic count ly; and he was fearful lest a messenger might come at any 
moment to bid him, in the name of the Governor of Cuba, submit to a force 
if strength superior to his own, which had been sent to complete the work 
which he had begun. He called a council of his officers; not so much to 
profit by their advice, as to interest them more deeply in the jilan which h<' 
was about (o propose to them, and peihaps to make them |)artly responsible 
for it to their common sovereign. 

He had formed aschemc to seize ^loiitezuma, an, 1 hold him as a iioslagcfor 
the good behavior of his people, while governing in his name. The bare 
statement of the fact does not fully show the audacitj- of the plan. The city 
of Mexico then contained, it is estimated, about three huinired tiiousand in- 
habitants; it was situated in the midst of a lake, connected with the main 
land by three immense causeways, wide enough for eight or ten horsemen to 
ride abreast, but rendered a means of defense against outer foes by means of 
draw-bridges, which, once raised, cut off all communication except by means 
of boats. The city was defended against assault from this source by high 
walls. Had the Emperor been as deterinined as some of his ancestors, he 
might easily have collected an army within the city itself, ten times as great 
as that of Cortes; raised the draw-bridges, thus cutting off all chance of 
escape for the Spaniards, unprovided with boats; and, seizing the camp be- 
fore they had time to man their cannon, put every soul to deatli. 

But he was unnerved by the thought of the projjhecies, which had long 
foretold the coming of white men with beards from the East, who should 
rule the land; and thus these prophecies worked out their own fulfillment, 
as superstitions are apt to do. He had permitted the Spaniards to enter the 
city; he had given them for their abode a building, originallj' a palace, which 
they had converted into a fortress; and he was afraid to take any open steps 
toward expelling them. 

The Spaniards were surprised at the plan which their leader unfolded to 
them ; some of them had indeed proposed a retreat ; but such a course would 
have brought the Aztec forces down upon them; and, even if they should 
reach the coast, they would have failed in an enterprise where anything but 
the most brilliant success would expose them to punishment from Velasquez. 

Even Cortes knew that he mu.st find some pretext for the seizure of the 
Emperor, so he made use of an occurrence of which be had received new.- 
atChohila. The lieutenant left in charge at Vera Cruz had, shortly after the 
departure of Cortes, received a message from an Aztec noble, named Quauh- 
popoca, declaring his desire to come in person and tender his allegiance to 
the Spanish authorities at Vera Cruz. He requested that four of the white 
men might be sent to escort him; they were promptly sent; but the treach- 



CORTES, THE CONQUEROR OF MEXICO. 343 

erous Indian caused two of them to bo murdered. The others, who had 
probably been reserved for sacrifice, escaped, and made their way back to the 
colony. 

Escalante, the Spanish commander, rallied his forces and started at once to 
avenge this wrong. He was reinforced by several thousand Indian allies; but 
these fled at the very beginning of the battle. The Spanish veterans, who 
numbered but fifty, held their ground; though they lost their leader and six 
or seven others. The Indian prisoners declared that Quaubpopocahad acted 
by the orders of Montezutna. 

Cortes had told but few of his ofiicers of this occurrence, and had wholly 
concealed it from the great body of his men, lest it should affect their 
courage. Thus, when he ordered them drawn up in military order, and 
stationed them in the avenues leading to the palace, they did not know 
that he was cutting off Montezuma from the body of his people. Cortes 
asked for an audience of the monarch, and his request was readily granted. 
Five cavaliers, in whom he placed unquestioning trust, attended him; they 
were Pedro de Alvarado, Gonzalo de Sandoval, Francisco de Lujo, Velasquez 
de Leon, and Alonso de Avila. Twenty-five or thirty picked nieu were or- 
dered to enter the palace, as if by accident, in groups of threes and fours. 

The conversation began in a playful tone; but when Cortes found that a 
sufiicient number of his men had arrived, he became serious, and charged 
Montezuma with having ordered the outrage upon his men. Montezuma, 
surprised, denied his complicity; and gave his signet-ring to one of his of- 
ficers, with orders to bring Quauhpopoca and his accomplices at once to Mex- 
ico, to answer the charge. 

The messenger left the imperial presence; but Cortes was not yet content. 
He saw plainly, he said, that Montezuma had nothing to do with the murder 
of the Spaniards; but it was necessary that the Emperor Charles V., his mas- 
ter, should be convinced of it. There was one thing that would be more 
convincing than anything else; if Montezuma would transfer his residence to 
the palace occupied by the Spaniards, no one could have any doubt. 

As Cortes argued that such an act would show so great a regard for the 
Spaniards as to absolve Montezuma from all suspicion, the dark face of the 
monarch became pale as death, and then flushed deeply, as, drawing himself 
proudly up, he demanded: — 

" When was it ever heard that a great prince like myself voluntarily left 
his own palace to liecome a prisoner in the hands of strangers? " 

Cortes tried to convince him that he would not be a prisoner; tliat he 
would be treated with constant deference by the Spaniards, and would still 
he attended as usual; that it would be nothing more than such a change of 
I'csidence as he frequently made for his own pleasure. But Montezuma was 
nut to be convinced. 



344 CDKIKS, TIIK ( O.NyrKKOIt Ol' MKXKO. 

" If I should coiisoiit to siii'li a dcirradation." In- !iii>\v(rcd 1 liciu. " my sub- 
jects never would." 

Yet sueh was the fear in whieh he held the Spaniards, that he offered to 
compromise with them, by offering his son and daughter as hostages. Two 
hours passed, without result, for the Spaniards were determined to secure 
.Montezuma himself. Then Velasquez de Leon, a kinsman of the Governor 
of Cuba, but strongly attached to Cortes, suddenly cried out: — 

" Why do we waste wortls on this barbarian? We have gone too far to re-, 
cede now. Let us seize him, and, if ho resists, plunge our swords into his 
boilyl " 

The savage tone and gestures told the monarch the general tenor of this 
speech; and he demanded of Marina, who always acted as interpreter, the 
meaning. She softened it as much as she could, and begged him to accom- 
pany the white men to their quarters, where he would bo treated with kind- 
ness and respect; while refusal would expose him to violence, periiaps to 
death. There was a momentary hesitation, as ^Montezuma looked about him 
for a friendly face, and found that his eyes rested only on the stern visages 
of the steel-clad Spaniards; then he consented to accompany them. 

Thus fell the Aztec monarchy; for although Montezunni, for sometime 
longer, retained his titles and nominal dignities, he was wholly under the 
domination of the Spaniards. Orders were at once given for his litter to be 
brought; and Montezuma, who had submitted unwillingly enough, now brought 
pride to the rescue, and led his nobles to believe that he went of his own free 
will. As he was borne through the streets, the wondering and excited peo- 
ple could not believe but that he was being forcibly carried off, until ho him- 
self bade them disperse quietly, as he was simply visiting liis friends of his 
own accord. 

True to their promise, the Spaniards treated him with all the formal respect 
which he had been accustomed to receive. His apartments were prepared 
with the same care as ever, his attendants were not changed, and as many of 
his thousand wives as he chose to summon to his presence received the hon- 
ors due to queens, when queens are so plentiful. Cortes himself removed his 
casque when approaching the Emperor, and never sat in his presence nnless 
especially invited. But still he was a prisoner. 

The people of Mexico were not wholly satisfied; and the fact that twenty 
men mounted guard constantly at the front of the palace, and an equal num- 
ber at the back, did not reassure them. Still, Montezuma had stated so pos- 
itively to the nobles and to the people that he went of his own free will that 
they had no excuse for interfering. 

On the arrival of Quauhpopoca, Montezuma referred the whole matter to 
the judgment of Cortes; perhaps unwilling to show either his people or him- 
self that he had not the power to try this ease. The cacique and fifteen of 



CORTES, THK CONyUEKOK OF MEXICO. 345 

his followers, who had all been implicated in the killing of the Spaniards, 
were condemned to be burned alive; the funeral pile being composed of ar- 
rows, javelins, and other weapons, of which the city arsenals afforded an 
ample supply. 

While preparations for the execution were going on, Cortes entered the 
apartment of Montezuma, attended by a soldier bearing fetters. Accusing 
the Emperor with having been theprincipal in the crime for which Quauh- 
popoca and his associates were to die, he ordered the soldiers to fasten the 
irons upon the limbs of the monarch. 

Montezuma submitted without a word; seemingly too dazed at the idea of 
such an insult to think of resisting or calling for help from his attendants. 
The irons were removed after the execution had taken place, Cortes making 
many apologies for the course to which, he said, necessity had compelled him. 
Not long afterward, the Spanish general even told Montezuma that he was at 
liberty to return to his usual dwelling, if he wished; but Montezuma declined 
to do so; saying that were he in the midst of his nobles, he would be com- 
pelled to make war upon the Spaniards. We can hardly suppose that he did 
not resent the treatment to which the bold Spaniard had subjected him; 
perhaps he would have been only too willing to make war upon Cortes and 
his followers, but feared that these proud Aztec nobles would first slay the 
ruler who had submitted to the .strangers, and then expel those strangers 
from Mexico. 

The news which had been received from Vera Cruz had compelled Cortes 
to send back one of his followers to take the place of Escalante; Alonso de 
Crrado was first chosen for the post; buthe provingunfitted, Gonzalo de San- 
doval, one of the officers who had assisted in capturing Montezuma, was ap- 
pointed by Cortes. To him Cortes sent orders to send to the city of Mexico 
sufficient quantities of the iron and cordage, saved from the ships which had 
been destroyed, to fit out a fleet which he proposed to build on the lake ; for 
there was always danger that the Aztecs niightcutoff the retreat of the Span- 
iards by seizing, or even, in desperation, destroying the causeways which con- 
nected the city with the land. 

At the same time that this work of ship-building was in progress, Cortes 
was busily extending the power of the Spanish arms. Cacama, the nephew 
of Montezuma, and ruler of Tezcuco, having made some efforts to procure 
the release of his uncle, was treacherously seized by Cortes, and put in irons. 
The chief who had been his accomplice in the "rebellion," as the Conqueror 
styled this refusal to recognize his usurped authority, waS also taken, brought 
in chains to Mexico, and placed in confinement with their leader. All this 
was done by the authority of Montezuma, still the nominal ruler of the coun- 
try, but really only a tool in the hands of Cortes. 

The next step was to procure from the Emperor of the Aztecs a formal ac- 



346 CORTE.S, Till-; (ONQUEKOU OK MKXICO. 

knowledgmcnt of tho supremo authority of CliarU-s V., King of Spain and 
Emperor of Geriuany. It would havo boon u.'^oloss for Montozunia to have 
refused ; aud ho and his nobles swore allegiaiico to the master of Cortes. Tho 
Conqueror next suggested that tho vassals should send tribute to their newly 
acknowledged sovereign; and to this Montezuma, although he had constantly 
showered presents of great worth uj)on tho greedy Spaniards, assented. Col- 
lectors were sent out, accompanied by a number of the Spaniards, and the 
tribute which had been paid to Montezuma was oollo<-tod for Charles. Off 
tho value of many of the articles so rendered — for the tribute was paid in. 
kind — we have no means of judging; there is no market pri<re for the rich 
feather-work and the tine embroidered cotton robes which formed so valuable 
a part of the treasures of every wealthy Aztec; but the gold and silver, re- 
duced to ingots and stamped by the royal goldsmiths with tho arms of Cas- 
tile, together with the pearls and precious stones, are estimated to have been 
worth more than a million and a quarter of dollars. Had this treasure been 
equally divided, it would havo amounted to more than iiftoon thousand dol- 
lars for each man who had engaged in the enterprise. One-tifth, however, 
was reserved for the Crown; one-tifth belonged to Cortes, as tho general; a 
considerable sum must be allowed to indemnify him and the Governor of Cuba 
for the expense incurred in fitting out the fleet ; the garrison at Vera Cruz 
was provided for; the cavaliers wore allowed an ample sum; the cavalry, 
arqucbusiers and crossbow-men received double pay; and when the turn of 
tho common soldiers came, it was found that their share was so small, in com- 
parison with what they had expected, that many of them refused to receive 
it at all. 

It required all tho eloquence and persuasive powers of Cortes to restore 
peace. The fact that he was able to do so at all shows what wonderful pow- 
ers over others the man possessed. At Vera Cruz he had induced them to 
surrender the treasure to the Crown, by promising them more when they got 
to Mexico; but at Mexico there was nothing more to promise; ho could only 
appeal to their love of glory, and satisfy them with tho " honeyed words, of 
which he had good store for all littingoccasions." 

But Cortes, although ho had reduecd the oneo proud Montezuma to be 
merely a tool in his hands, and had received, in tho name of his master, trili- 
utc from all the dependencies of the Aztecs, was not yet satisfied. The Span- 
iards had erected an altar in their barracks, and were accustomed to having 
religious services preformed there. This was no longer to be endured; and 
Cortes demanded of Montezuma that the great teocalli, the chief tenqjle of 
the city, should bo given to the Spaniards as a house of worship. 

Montezuma protested against this. It was because the priests hat! predicted 
the coining of boarded white men from tho East, who should become the 
rulers of Anahuac, that he had yielded to the Spaniards without striking a 



CORTES, THE CONQUEROR OF MEXICO. 



347 



blow; but he clearly foresaw the results of insulting his gods. He therefore 
spoke to Cortes, addressing him by the name which his constant companion- 
ship with the interpreter Marina had caused the Indians to give him : — 

"Why, Malinche,why will you urge matters to this extremity, which must 
surely bring down the vengeance of our gods, and stir up an insurrection of 
my people, who will never endure this profanation of their temples?" 




Mexican Idol and Ruins. 

Signing to his officers to withdraw, Cortes told the Emperor that he would 
try to persuade his followers to be content with one of the sanctuaries of the 
teocalli; threatening, if this were not granted, to take the temple by force, 
and roll down the images of his gods before the whole city. 

" We fear not for our lives," he said, " for although our numbers are few, 
the arm of the true God is over us." 

Montezuma held a conference with his priests upon the subject; and final- 
ly decided that the Christians should be granted the use of one division of 
the temple. This, jjurified from the indications of the human sacrifices 
which had so often been offered there, was provided with an altar, over 



.'U8 CORTES, Tin; cunqlkruk di' .mkxko. 

which a crucifix and an image of tlio A'irgin were raised; and the walls, once 
reeking with blond, wi^re adorned witii garlands of flowers. Then, in the old 
pagan temple, newly dedicated to a purer worship, there knelt the fierce aTid 
proud soldiers who professed to be followers of the meek and lowly Naza- 
rine — the house of prayer no stranger a combination of lieathenism and 
Christianity than were their own natures. 

But the Aztecs, who had seen the strangers encamped in their midst, had 
seen richest gifts showered upon them, had seen them repay this kindness 
and generosity by seizing and holding Montezuma as a prisoner, and treating 
as rebels those who had dared attempt to rescue him, rebelled against this 
latest insult to their nation. Montezuma summoned Cortes to his j)resence, 
receiving him with cold civility; and told him that what he feared had come 
to pass. The gods of his country had been offended by the violation of the 
temple, and had threatened to forsake the city, if the strangers were not sac- 
rificed upon the altars which they had profaned. Mont(>zunia was willing to 
consult the safety of the Spaniards, by warning them of this threat ; conclud- 
ing with a statement of his own power: — 

" I have but to raise my finger, and every Aztec in the land will lisc^ in 
arms against jou." 

Cortes coolly replied that he should regret to have to leave the capital, as 
he had no ships to transport him to the islands whence he had come; he 
should especially regret it, he added, with emphasis, because these peculiar 
circumstances would compel him to take the Emperor with him. Montezu- 
ma, startled at this suggestion, incjuired how long it would take to build the 
necessary vessels; and finally consented to send a sufficient number of work- 
men to the coast, to fell the timber and build the ships, under the direction 
of the Spaniards. Cortes was thus enabled to remain in Mexico for some 
lime longer than the priests had contemplated; sure that Montezuma would 
not allow any direct effort to expel him and his followers. 

Their position was not without danger, however; and they were constantly 
on the alert; they slept in their armor, with their arms beside them; and 
Cortes kept his horse standing, fully caparisoned, day and night. 

While this state of affairs threatened the Spaniards, news arrived which 
was anything but cheering. The vessel which Cortes had dispatched to bear 
the news of his discovery of ISIexico, with the vast treasure which had formed 
the first gift of Montezuma, had been taken possession of by the royal au- 
thorities on its arrival in Spain; a connection of Velasquez having lodged a 
complaint charging those on board the vessel with nmtiny and rebellion 
against the authorities of Cuba. Had they not touched on the coast of that 
island, he would have had no tidings of their coming. 

The rich treasure which they brought, however, disposed the Emperor to 
listen favorably to them; but Fonseca, who had opposed the success of so 



CORTES, TIIF, CONQtrKROR OK MEXICO. 



;u;i 



manj- who had been foremo.st in developing the resources of the Mew World, 
from Columbus down, appeared like a malevolent spirit once more, and per- 
suaded the Emperor to deln.v action on these claims to recognition. 




Charles V. was much more interested in his own personal advancement 
than he was in the welfare of his subjects or the acbninistration of justice; 
and he readily allowed his attention to be drawn off to other things. He de- 
voted himself to obtaining supplies from his Spanish subjects for the prose- 
cution of that war which he carried on for so many years against Francis I. 
of France; and had but a week to devote to colonial affairs before he left 
Spain for his more northern dominions. Of this brief period, the greater 
portion was devoted to the claims of Don Diego Columbus, who was still 
contending for the rights so highly valued by his great father. Cortes re- 
ceived hardly a moment's consideration; the order to allow the envoys 
enough for the expenses of their journey being the only record of any kind. 

But, during this time that the messengers of Cortes had spent in waiting the 



350 CORTES, THE CONytEHOR OK MEXICO. 

pleasure of their iiiipi-rial master, Velasijuez had not been idle. He had 
lilted out a Heet nneiiualled by any that had ever sailed in American waters, 
except that which conveyed Ovando from Sjiain to San Domingo; for its 
leader ho selected a favorite who had aissisted him in th(^ reduction of Cuba, 
a Castilian noble named Pantilo de Narvaez. The eighteen vessels were 
manned by nine hundred men, and carried a number of heavy guns, with au 
ample supply of ammunition and military stores of all kinds. 

Following nearly the same path over the waters as that which Cortes had 
taken to tiic main land, they landed near VeraCruz, and proclaimed their in- 
tention to march against Cortes and punish him for his rebellion. Sandoval 
at once prepared to defend his little fort. Narvaez sent an embassy to him, 
requiring him to surrender to the authority of the deputy of Velascjuez. This 
embassy consisted of a priest, a notary, and four others. Sandoval refused to 
hear the proclamation which the notary was commandetl to read; but re- 
markingthat the general should listen to it at Mexico, summoned a number 
of Indian porters, and caused the envoys to be bound upon their backs like 
so many bales of goods. Placed under a guard of twenty of his men, with 
ample relays of porters, the singular procession left for the capital, which 
they reached in four days. 

Montezuma had received news of the coming of the strangers, and told 
Cortes that there was no longer any reason why he should delay in leaving 
for the coast, since the ships were there to take him back to Cuba or Spain. 
But while the troops hailed the news as the best of tidings, Cortes had his 
suspicions, which he communicated to his officers, and through them to his 
men. All doubts were dispelled when tlie ])risoners from Vera Cruz ar- 
rived. 

Receiving them with honor, apologizing for the treatment which they had 
received at the hands of his otlicers, and loading them with gifts, Cortes suc- 
ceeded in winning these enemies completely over to his own side; and ob- 
tained from them many important particulars regarding the plans of their 
leader and the feelings of his followers. Letters were dispatched to Narvaez, 
begging him to show the Indians no signs of dissensions among the whites, 
but to co-operate heartily with Cortes; who would cheerfully yii'ld the com- 
mand to him, if he could produce a royal commission to sustain his author- 
ity. 

But Narvaez treated these letters with open scorn, and announced that he 
intended to march against the traitor Cortes and liberate the Emperor Mon- 
tezuma. Cortes, who was kept well informed of the progress of events, both 
by his emissaries in the camp of Narvaez and by his faitiiful lieutenant Sando- 
val, was now in a very difficult position. If he remained in Mexico and awaited 
an attack, he would be confronted by Narvaez with a force more than double 
his own, besides the vast numbers of Aztecs who would aid him when his do- 



CORTES, THE CONQUEROR OF MEXICO. 351 

sign of liberating the Emperor became well known; if he marched against 
Narvacz he must either abandon Mexico and Montezuma, and thus leave a 
most formidable enemy in his rear, or he must divide his force, ah'eady 
small, and, leaving one handful to maintain his authority in Mexico, march 
with the other handfnl against the army of Karvaez. 

While every possible plan presented much danger, he chose tjie last as the 
least perilous. Alvarado was left in command at Mexico, with one hundred 
and forty Spaniards, all the artillery, the greater part of the cavalry, and 
most of those who possessed fire-arms. Only seventy soldiers accompanied 
Cortes; but these were the picked men of his little force; and, being encum- 
bered by but little baggage, were able to move very rapidly. 

Velasquez de Leon had been sent, with a hundred and twenty men, to 
form a settlement on the coast about sixty miles south of Vera Cruz; but, 
liearing of the landing of the hostile party, had, without waiting for orders, 
countermarched to Cholula, and there halted till the arrival of Cortes. 

Six hundred Tlascalans had formed part of his force; but, afraid to face a 
Spanish enemy, they had deserted in such numbers that Cortes dismissed 
them all, saying that he had rather part with them then than in the hour of 
trial. Reinforced by a body of men from Vera Cruz, several of whom wei"e 
deserters from Narvaez, his whole force numbered at last but two hundred 
and sixty-six men. 

The march was made about the middle of May, 1520; for the Spaniards 
had been six months at the Aztec capital before Narvaez arrived off the 
coast. It was the evening of Whitsunday when the wearied men arrived at 
the bank of a stream called the Rio de Canoas — the River of Canoes. It was 
greatly swollen by recent rains, and rain still fell in torrents, drenching them 
to the skin. Just across this river was tlie camp of Narvaez. 

Cortes determined to attack his enemy that night; and, in spite of the fury 
of the elements, despite the rushing of the waters, which actually canned 
away two of his men in the attempt to cross, held to his purpose. The camp 
of Narvaez was but slightly guarded; and, although one sentinel escaped the 
hands of Cortes and gave the alarm, the soldiers would not believe that on 
such a night the enemy could cross the river. Perhaps their unbelief was 
due largely to the arguments of those who had been sent to summon Sando- 
val to surrender, and had been forwarded bj' him to Mexico; envoys of whom 
a follower of Cortes has told us: "Our commander said so many kind 
things to them, and anointed their fingers so plentifully with gold, that, 
though they came like roaring lions, they went away perfectly tame." 

There was a battle, brisk but brief; and Narvaez was wounded and taken 
prisoner. His soldiers submitted without further resistance to Cortes, who 
treated them with such kindness and loaded them with such presents, as to 
excite the dissatisfaction of his own troops. He explained to them the ne- 



I 



'M)'2 CORTES, TIIK CUNQIKKOK OK .MKXICO. 

cossity of attaching tliosc recent enemies firmly to liis cause, and in order to 
prevent further dissatisfaction, had arran>;ed to employ all on various mis- 
sions, when bad news came from Mexico. The brigantines which had been 
built on the lake had been burned by the natives; the causeways were held 
by them; and Alvarado, with his garrison, was closely besieged in the j)alace. 

Cortes at once marched to his relief; tinding, as lio api)roaclicd Mexico, 
anything but acordial reception. He arrived at the margin of the lake June 
24, 1520; and marched across the principal i-auseway without oi)position. 
The streets of the city seemed deserted as the Spaniards made thi'ir way to 
the quarters occupied bj' their comrades, where they were heartily welcomed: 
and where Cortes at once proceeded to interrogate Alvarado concerning the 
diificulties of his position. 

According to the cavalier, ho had learned that the Mexican nobles medi- 
tated a treacherous assault upon the Spaniards; and, to prevent his own de- 
struction, Alvarado had counterplotted. At a great religi(jus festival of the 
Aztecs, the Spaniards, whose arms were carefully concealed, as far as possi- 
ble, had attended, as if out of curiosity. At a given signal, they liad fallen 
upon the worshiiiers and massacred them. The Mexicans, naturally enough, 
had been i-oused to revenge by this action, and had besieged the Spaniards in 
their barracks. Failing to carry this stronghold, they had contented them- 
selves with removing all food from the markets of the city, forbidding the 
visits of the boats which were accustomed to bring supplies, and tiuis bring- 
ing famine to their aid against the garrison of the strangers. . 

Whether or not Alvarado ])roved to the commander that there had t)een a _,— -* 
conspiracy of the natives, we do not know; there is no good proof of such a 
plot to be found in the histories of the time; and it seems to have bee/, 
thought that the Spaniards simply indulged their thirst for blood and foi 
gold; for they plundered the bodies of their victims of their ornaraentj. 
Cortes heard him to the end, questioning him closely ; then, with frowninr,' 
brow, he thundered out : — 

"You have done badly; you have been false to your trust ; your conduct; 
has been that of a madman ! " ' 

Nor was he better pleased with the conduct of Montezuma, although, ao 
cording to the account of Alvarado, the populace would have stormed the. 
l)alace and nmrdered the Spaniards had it not been for the commands of 
their Emperor. Montezuma having sent some of his nobles to ask for an in- 
terview with Cortes, the general turned to his own officers with liic tierce 
question : — 

" What have I to do with this dog of a king who suffers us to starve before 
his eyes? " 

In spite of the remonstrances of his officers, he turned to the Mexicans and 
gave them the answer they were to carry back : — 



CORTES, THE CONQUEROR OF MEXICO. 353 

" Go tell your master and his people to open the markets, or we will do it 
for them, to their cost." 

This was too much for the patience of the Mexicans, who had borne so 
much ; and, mustering their vast army, they assaulted the palace in which the 
Spaniards were encamped. They came forward with the shrill whistle which 
was the Aztec substitute for the war-cry of the more northern tribes of this 
continent, confident in their numbers. The Spaniards, always watchful under 
the eye of a leader who never once relaxed his vigilance, were ready for them 
at once. The cannon, pointed at the dense masses of the attacking party, 
mowed them down by hundreds; but, although the Mexicans had never before 
faced fire-arms in battle, they rallied from the first confusion into which the 
discharge naturally threw them, and pressed forward with the same courage 
as if their opponents had no more deadly weapons than their own. 

But the Mexicans, unable to carry the strong walls of the fort M'hich their 
own hands had raised, and which their own ruler had given to the enemy, 
found a more effectual weapon than missiles ; and hurling burning brands up- 
on theliglit wooden structures which the Spaniards had erected in the court- 
yard of the palace, set these flimsy walls on fire; the roofs of neighboring 
buildings affording a position from which these missiles might be thrown, and 
burning arrows shot to advantage. The Spaniards had as much as they could 
do to fight the Mexicans and the fire at once; for, to add to their distress, 
their supply of water was but limited. 

At last, however, night came on; and the Mexicans, who seldom fought 
except by day, withdrew from the contest. The earliest gray light of the 
next morning showed the streets about the Spanish quarters even more 
closely thronged with Aztec soldiers than on the preceding day; and Cortes 
determined, by a vigorous sortie, to dispei-se his enemies. His arrangements 
had already been made; for the night had not been spent in sleep; a general 
dischai'ge of musketry and ordnance, at a moment when the Mexicans hardly 
realized that the Spaniards were awake, so quiet had been their stronghold, 
sent confusion into the close ranks of the Mexicans that thronged the streets. 
Then the gates were thrown open, and Cortes sallied out at^the head of his 
cavalry, suppoi-ted by his infantry and a considerable body of Tlascalans. 

The impetus of the charge drove the Mexicans back; but they soon rallied, 
and every inch of the way was hotly disputed. The fight was a desperate one; 
and it was nearly dark before the Spaniards retreated to their stronghold, as 
far as ever from victory. 

Cortes was suffering from a severe wound received during the fight, and 
was anxious about the result. In this situation, he resolved to make use of 
Montezuma, to allay the tumult. But the Emperor's patience, like that of 
his people, was exhausted; he had not forgiven Cortes for the treatment re- 
ceived since the return of the Spaniard with his reinforcements. 
23 



CORTKS, THE CONQUEROR OF MEXICO. 355 

" What have I to do with Malinche?" he asked coldly, when the general's 
message was delivered to him ; "I do not wish to hear from him. I desire 
only to die. To what a state has my willingness to serve him reduced me! " 

They urged him farther, but to no purpose. 

"It is of no use. They will neither believe me, nor the false words and 
promises of Malinche. You will never leave these walls alive." 

At length, their persistence induced him to comply with their demands; 
and, putting on his imperial robes, he ascended the central turret of the pal- 
ace. He was recognized at once, and a deathlike stillness pervaded the whole 
warlike assemblage of his people. Then he spoke to them, using words 
which have been preserved by the Spanish historians who wrote of the time: — 

" Why do I see my people here in arms against the palace of my fathers? Is 
it that you think your sovereign a prisoner, and wish to release him? If so, 
you have acted rightly. But you are mistaken. I am no prisoner. The 
strangers are my guests. I remain with them only from choice, and can leave 
them when I list. Have you come to drive them from the city? That is un- 
necessary. They will depart of their own accord, if you will open a way for 
them. Return to your homes, then. Lay down your arms. Show your obe- 
dience to me, who have a right to it. The white men shall go back to their 
own land; and all shall be well again within the walls of Tenochtitlan." 

The silence of respect for the monarch was broken by a low murmur of 
discontent and contempt which ran through the crowd; and this was suc- 
ceeded by the bitterest taunts. They called him a coward, a woman, fit only 
to spin and to weave. Some of them added to these hostile words yet more 
hostile actions; and of the darts that rained about Montezuma, three struck 
their mark, severely wounding him. Yet, as he sank senseless beneath the 
blow inflicted by a stone, the Mexicans cried out in dismay, and suddenly dis- 
persed, leaving not one of their number in the great square before the palace. 

Montezuma was carried to his own apartments, and there restored to his 
senses. But he was more bitterly humiliated than everbefore. All the efforts 
of Cortes and his followers, and of the Aztec nobles who still attended him, 
were in vain ; he refused all the remedies prescribed for his wounds, and tore 
off the bandages as fast as they were applied; maintaining a determined 
silence, and sitting with downcast eyes and sad face. 

But Cortes was summoned from the chamber of the wounded monarch by 
the necessity of looking after his men. The Mexicans had gained the sum- 
mit of the neighboring teocalli, the great temple which was a pyramidal 
mound with a building crowningit. This lay only a few rods from the Span- 
ish quarters, and rose to the height of a hundred and fifty feet; so that the 
Mexicans, from its summit, could rain down missiles of all sorts into the very 
heart of the Spanish stronghold; against them there could be no defense; and 
no artillery could reach the assailants. 



;5o6 



OORTK.S, TUr. ('ONyUKROR OF MEXICO. 



It was nccessarj'to cany this stronghold bj- assault, and Cortes, fastening 
his buckler to his wounded left arm, led the three hundred chosen cavaliers 
in person. It was the most desperate fight that had yet been waged. The 
Spaniards fought their way up the terraced slope, and at last gained the sum- 
mit. Not only were the usual arms enij)loycd, but the combatants grappled 
with cacli other, oacli striving to hurl tiio other headlong down the precipit- 




MoNTIC/AMA Wul .NUEU liV Ills Ow.N ri.01'1.1.. 

ous ascent to the temple. It is recorded by some historians that Cortes him- 
self was assaulted by two Mexicans, both having this end in view; he success- 
fully resisted them, but was dragged perilously near the edge of the summit ; 
at the last moment, however, he escaped their united j;rasp, and, turning sud- 



COHTES, TIIK CONQUEROR OK JIEXICX). i^oT 

denly, hurled one of his assailants down the jn'i'cipice, and then dispatched 
the other with his sword. 

When the fight ended, forty-five of the Spaniards had fallen and most of 
the survivors had been wounded; while of the enemy, only two or three 
priests survived to be led away in triumph. The work was not yet aceom- 
plished, however, although their foes had all been slain. The great image 
, of Huitzilopotchli was torn from its altar, and thrown headlong down the 
steps which had led to the summit of the pyramid; then the torch was ap- 
plied, and the fiames, rising higher and higher, proclaimed that the great 
heathen temple had been destroyed by the Christian invader. 

That very night the Spaniards followed up the blow thus inflicted by firing 
three hundred houses of the city. Cortes, thinking that these disasters must 
have subdued the spirit of the Mexicans, called on them to parley with him. 
He recounted to them the disasters which they had suffered, the destruction 
of their homes, their temples, and their idols, and the death of so many of 
their warriors; threatening, if they did not lay down their arms, to make 
their city a heap of ruins. 

But the Mexicans Mere not thus to be conquered. They admitted all that 
he said; their gods had been trampled in the dust, their temples destroyed, 
their houses burned, their warriors had fallen by the thousand. 

" Yet we are content," they cried, " so long as for every thousand of our 
warriors that fall we can shed the blood of a single white man. Look out on 
our terraces and our streets, see them still thronged with warriors far as your 
eye can reach. Our numbers are scarcely diminished by our losses. Yours, 
on the other hand, are lessening every hour. You are perishing from hun- 
ger and sickness. Your provisions and water are failing. You must soon 
fall into our hands. The bridges are broken down, and you cannot escape. 
There will be too few of you left to glut the vengeance of our gods!" 

The situation, as thus stated by their enemies, was no whit exaggerated; 
and the soldiers demanded with noisy vehemence to be led instantly from 
the city. Thus spoke the followers of Narvaez, while the veterans of Cortes 
labored to restore order and unity among the white men. 

But Cortes saw plainly enough that he could not remain in Mexico, for it 
was too true that his provisions were giving out. He determined by means 
of pretended sallies to divert the attention of the Mexicans from his real 
purpose, which was to restore the bridges over the seven canals which tra- 
versed the main streets of the city. His army must pass along this street to 
reach the causeway communicating with the mainland, and these l)ridges had 
all been destroyed by the enemy. Two days were consumed in filling up the 
chasms with stones and rubbish, so that the cavalry and artillery could pass 
over them. This was not accomplished without opposition. As they were 
busily engaged at one such point, they were assaulted by a considerable body 



;5.")8 COKTKS. TIIK CONyi'KKOR OK MKXICO. 

of th(! onemy. Pliinks hud been laid across the opening, to serve until the 
workmen eould place the substantial material ; and Cortes sent a number of 
the nienl>ack while he, with some others, detained the assailants on the far- 
ther side of the opening. Again and again he commanded the retreat of 
parties of his followers, until at last, like lloratius, he stood ah)ne on that 
side of the l)ridge, facing a host of foes. As if to make tiie parallel complete, 
the timbers which had provided a means of retreat for the; others had been 
swept aside in their flight; and between the knight, clad in steel armor ai'- 
bestriding a horse defended by plates of the same metal, and his stronghok. 
lay a canal, the least width of which was certainly six feet — no small leap for 
a horse bearing such a weight of steel. The good steed sprang across it, how- 
ever, lauding safely on the other side; and, although pursued by a shower of 
darts, Cortes reached his fortress in safety. 

A new trouljle awaitetl him. Montezuma had not recovered from the ter- 
rible blow received when his people deserted him; he sank under the wounds 
received, because his spirit was still more deeply wounded ; and, June 30, ir)20, 
ho passed away, committing his daughters to the care of Cortes. Much to 
the anxiety of the Spaniards, who were certainly consistent in their constant 
endeavors to convert the natives, although not always particular as to 
the means employed, he refused to the last to embrace the Christian religion. 

It was necessary to evacuate the city at once; as the Spaniards had lost the 
last slight hold which they had upon the peoj)le of Analuiac It was finally 
determined, after much discussion, to go at night, since then tiie enemy was 
less on the alert; and, at midnight on the 1st of July, 1520, they took up the 
line of march. Much of the treasure which they had accunudated had, of 
course, to be abandoned; ('ortes, as in duty ))ound, provided for the trans- 
portation of the royal tiftli, but advised his men to select only such things as 
might be easily transported. The follower* of Narvaez. however, unwisely 
weighted themselves down with the gold. 

A portable bridge had been constructed, to use over the three openings in 
the causeway. But liefore they reached the tirst, the alarm had been given 
to their enemies, and they were beset by an innumerable throng of Indians. 
They hastened across the bridge, hoping to retard the Aztecs by removing 
it ; although there were many in canoes, whose arrows came in a perfect hail. 
lUit the tramp of so many horses and men, and the weight of the cannon, 
had bedded the timbers so firmly that they they could not be moved; and the 
van-guard, which had arrived at the second chasm before the rear-guaid had 
passed the first, found itself with an impassable gulf before, and a host of 
enemies behind and on either hand. There was a desperate fight ; and many 
of the men, horse and foot, plunged into the lake, and endeavored to make 
their way across without the help of the bridge. Many of them sank be- 
neath the weight of the gold with which they had encumbered themselves; 



CORTES, THE CONQUEKOR OF MEXICO. 



369 



:iud tlius fell victims to their ovvu greed. While they were struggling in the 
waters, endeavoring to beat off the assailants in the canoes, there came a 
cry for help from the rear-guard ; and the gallant and generous cavaliers, un- 
mindful of their own dangers, dashed back to the scene of danger to rescue 
their comrades. 




Despkratk Batti-b on the Causeway. 

Aharado had been placed iu command of it. Upon his columns rushed an 
unnumbered host, wliich proved resistless. Wounded iu several jalaces, his 
horse killed under him, he was vainly endeavoring to stem the tide of his as- 
sailants when his comrades charged to his aid. But, although they created a 
temporary diversion, their efforts were vain, and Gortes and his men were 
glad to plunge again into the waters. Alvarado stood a moment on the brink 
of the causeway; then, planting his spear firmly in the wreck which strewed 
the bottom of the lake, he gave one tremendous bound, and cleared the 
opening — his sole chance of escape, for, unhorsed as he was, he would have 
been instantly struck down by the myriads who in their canoes swarmed 
about him. His Indian spectators — for it was now daylight — stared in amaze- 
ment ;it this feat, and cried out: "This is truly the Child of the Sun! " — a 



3(iO CORTKS, THE CONQUEROR OF MEXICO. 

iiaiiic wliicli they had long since given him, because of liis bright gohlcn hair 
and fair complexion. 

Diaz, a companion of ('ortes, who well remombered the place, says that the 
leap was impossible to any man; unfortunately, tiie tradition of tiie exploit 
makes no mention of the distance; so that we cannot judge how wonderful 
was his jump. It is certain that it was generally believed at the time, and 
that even now the name of " Alvarado's Leap " is given to the spot where 
he is said to have escaped his foes. 

They reached the land at last; and Cortes, sitting on the steps of a temple, 
reviewed the remnant of his host. As he looked upon them, his proud, gay 
spirit gave way, and he buried his face in his hands. According to the most 
reliable authorities, about four hundred and tifty of the Spaniards had per- 
ished this night; and allowing for the numbers who must have fallen tluring 
the assaults of the Aztecs upon their stronghold, and in their sallies into 
the streets, it is probable that not more than a third of the original force 
remained. The loss on the part of the Tlascalan allies. 

Not only was the treasure which they had sought to carry off lost, but other 
things, of infinitely greater value totliem in their march through the enemy's 
country. The cavalry had numbered sixty-nine; but of these two-thirds had 
fallen; and most of the horses of the survivors were in very jioor condition. 
The artillery, the ammunition, even the nmskets had been lost; " all that a 
man hath will he give for his life ; " and the frightened ar(iuebusiers had flung 
away even their weapons in the flight. 

They took refuge in a teocalli at no great distance from Tlacopan, on the 
summit of a hill which is now occupied by a Christian church, dedicated to 
the Virgin under the name of Nuestra Senora de los Kemedios. Here their 
column was arranged for retreat in orderly, soldierly fashion: the sick and 
wounded to be transported on litters, while front, rear and flanks were suit- 
ably protected. 

Their march was harassed by small parties of the natives, who attacked 
the rear of the van, or assaulted those who lagged behind by reason of weak- 
ness, or those who strayed too far from the line of march in search of food. 
Famine, too, stared them in the face; they thought themselves fortunate 
when they found in a cornfield by the way a few forgotten, misshapen ears 
of corn; when a horse chanced to be killed, it furnished forth abantiuet; and 
Cortes records how he made one of a party which devoured such an animal, 
even to its hide. 

They journeyed a week before they reached the mountains overlooking the 
plains of Otumba, nine leagues distant from the capital; the roundabout way 
which they had been obliged to take for safety's sake, and the frequent halts 
for the resting of the disabled, having made their journey thus slow. Slowly 
and painfully they climbed the steeps which overlook the valley. 



CORTKS, TIIK CONQUKKOR OF MEXICO. 



3G1 



Before the army had reached the summit, however, the videttes came in 
with aUirming news. In the valley beneath them was a mighty host; their 
uniforms of white cotton, quilted thick enough to turn an arrow, giving the 
valley the appearance of being blocked with snow. It was the vast army of 
the Aztecs, gathered here to complete the destruction of Cortes and his fol- 
lowers. 




Cortes Fighting at Otuhiba. 

Retreat was impossible, for the capital was in the hands of the same enemy 
that had driven them out; should they halt and await the attack, or shoukl 
they cut their way through this army? 

Cortes rapidly made preparations for the fight, although feeling that the 
" the last of his days " had arrived. He addressed his troops, reminding them 
of their experience of the triumph of science and discipline over numbers; 



'M\2 COKTKS, TlIK ( l)N(;ri:K(»K OK MKXICO. 

ami biulo them have coiifidciuc in Ihfir Divine LcadtT, who li:ul Inoufrht llicni 
safely liirough so in:iny peril.s. Then lie led them straight against the enemy. 

Tlie fight raged with iucredihle fury, and there was not one of the Spaniards 
or their Tlasc-alan allies that escaped uniiurt. Their efforts had been tremen- 
dous, hut they were so far outnumbered by the nuiltitudes of the enemy that 
it seemed a hopeless struggle. Just as it seemed most certain that his entire 
army would be destroyed, Cortes espied the chief whom lie knew, from his 
dress and surroundings, must bo the commander. He turned to Sandoval, 
Olid, Alvarado, Avila, lighting at his side, and cried to them: — 

" There is our mark ! Follow, and support me I" 

With that he dashed into the very midst of the Indian army, followed 
closely by his devoted cavaliers; the Indians falling back from his path in 
very suri)rise at his daring. Kising in his stirrups, he struck one tremend- 
ous blow at the feather-clad and jewel-decked chieftain, felling him to the 
ground. It was all the work of a moment. The guard that had surrounded 
the chief was struck down or scattered; the golden net, his standard, was 
seized and presented to Cortes by one of the Spaniards who had rode at his 
side ; the flying Indians told tlie story ; panic stricken, the vast army thought 
only of escape, and imagined their comrades, pressing hard u|)on them, to be 
Spaniards thirsting for their blood. The Spaniards and Tlascalans pursued 
them till the victors were sated with the slaughter; and then returned to 
gather the rich spoil of the battle-field. The devout Spaniards saw, riding 
among them and aiming at their foes. Saint James on his milk-white charger, 
and attributed their victory to a miracle. Voltaire, too skeptical to accept 
this, says: " The true miracle was the conduct of Cortes." 

" A single field had turned the chance of war," and the Spaniards had re- 
gained the prestige which they had lost. Cortes, however, was anxious as tc 
what reception he would be accorded by the Tlascalans; he fean-d that the 
weakened state of his army would offer great inducements, aiul the number 
of Tlascalans who had perished while under his command afford a pretext 
fortius warlike and hardynation to effect that destruction of his forceswhich 
they had attempted when he first passed through their terrritory. Much to 
his relief, however, he was kindly received ; and the Tlascalans renewed their 
assurances of friendship and alliance. 

They remained at the Tlascalan capital several weeks, recruiting their 
strength, and applying such remedies as the science of the time suggested to 
the wounds which they had received. Cortes himself had received two 
wounds on the head, one during the march, and one during the battle of 
Otumba. The neglect of the first wound, and the nature of the second, com- 
bined to make his a very serious case; a portion of the bone had to be re- 
moved; fever set in; and for days the heroic leader lay helpless as a babe, 
hovering between life and death. 



I 



CORTES, THE CONQUEROR OF MEXICO. 363 

Bat his strong constitution triumphed, and he was soon on the road to re- 
covery. As he lay helpless, he revolved in his mind schemes for the future. 
Return to Vera Cruz, thence to Cuba or Spain, acknowledging his failure, he 
would not; he was determined to achieve the conquest of Mexico. 

When this purpose was announced to his soldiers, it created much discon- 
tent among those who had followed Narvaez from Cuba to Mexico, in search 
of gold and glory, and had acquired neither. They addressed a strong remon- 
strance to him, urging him to return to Vera Cruz at once. This remon- 
strance excited the indignation of those veterans who had followed him from 
Cuba; but Cortes finally bade those who were dissatisfied with the expedi- 
tion to return; saying that he did not think it would be any real loss to part 
with those who were not fully determined to conquer. 

Before attacking the capital, however, it was necessary to reduce certain 
tribes in the neighborhood of Tlascala; since they would prove formidable 
additions to the Aztec forces, but could be beaten without much diiSculty if 
attacked singly. This accomplished, Cortes saw with satisfaction that his 
force had received reinforcements not only in numbers and military supplies, 
but in self-confidence and courage as well. 

These reinforcements of men and arms had come from no other than Ve- 
lasquez, the Governor of Cuba. It was not that he had become a friend to 
Cortes; but he had not heard of the defeat which Narvaez had sustained; 
and supposing that of course his lieutenant, with a force so much greater, 
had easily conquered Cortes and his followers, had dispatched two successive 
ships to the assistance of Narvaez in the conquest of the country. These had 
arrived at Vera Cruz before their crews learned the real state of affairs; and 
the soldiers were readily persuaded to take service under Cortes. 

There was a work of great magnitude, however, to be performed before 
the capital could be attacked with reasonable assurance of success. Cortes 
had learned from experience that it would not do to depend upon the cause- 
ways; he must have a fleet upon the lake, in place of that which had been 
built with the assistance of Montezuma, and destroyed by the hostile Aztecs. 
It shows us the indomitable spirit of the man, when we reflect that these 
vessels must l)e built far from the waters on which they were to sail, and 
transported overland, along mountainous paths, to the shores of the lake. 
Fortunately, the skilled ship-builder who had superintended the building of 
the other vessels had not perished on " The Melancholy Night," as the his- 
torians term the night when Cortes and his followers escaped from Mexico. 

With the assistance of the Tlascalans, the work of building the fleet went 
rapidly on. Cortes, however, did not wait for its completion; but, muster- 
ing his forces, set out on the journey. He had about six hundred men, forty 
of whom were mounted; eighty were armed with arquebuses or cross-bows, 
■ and he had nine cannon. These fire-arms had all been sent by Velasquez. 



3(i4 CORTKS, THE CONQUEROR Ol" MEXICO. 

Tlicy iciiehod the city of Tezcuco tho last day of the year 1520; the inhab- 
itiuits fleeing Ijefoie their advance. The fliglit of the chief, who was an ally 
of tho Mexicans, gave him an excuse for nominating another, directly under 
his control, to tiio government of the city; and the Tezcucans were gradually 
reassured, antl induced to return to their city. 

The first step of Cortes had been to fortify himself against all tlanger of a 
surprise; leaving this strong camp to a sutKcient guard, lie, with the larger 
part of his followers, set out to attack the city of Iztapalapan, situated on the 
tongue of land which .separates the two lakes. The fight raged fiercely al- 
most the whole day; but the desperate Indians, resolved to defi'at the kSpan- 
iards at any price, cut tlie dikes which confined the waters of the lake, and 
the Spaniards were tomixdled to retreat before the advancing flood. 

The Spaniards lost all the booty which they had acquired in this j)lace, and 
had, besides, their powtier ruined. Yet the fate of the city struck terror in- 
to the hearts of many Indians; and the people of different places sent depu- 
tations to offer their submission to the white men. 

The Aztec empire was cruml)liug to pieces, but still the Emperor pre- 
served his courage, and answered with spirit the messages which Cortes sent 
him, calling upon him to submit himself to the authority of the Spanish sov- 
ereign. Montezuma had been succeeded 1)y his brother, who had lived but 
four months after his accession; he in turn was succeeded by his nephew, 
Guatemozin, a man of twenty-five. 

At last the thirteen vessels were completed, and safely transported to Tez- 
cuco. " It was a marvelous thing," Cortes writes in his letter, " that few- 
have seen, or even heard of — this transportation of thirteen vessels of war 
on the shoulders of men, for nearly twenty leagues across the mountains I"' 

Early in the spring, with three hundred and fifty Spaniards, and a consid- 
erable body of Tlascalans — tho number is placed by some authorities as high 
as a hundred and fifty thousand — leaving the remainder of his force in re- 
serve as a garrison at Tezcuco, Cortes set out, by a circuitous route, to Mex- 
ico. This first expedition occupied al)out two weeks' time; several minor 
places were reduced, but the capital itself repelled the advance of the Span- 
iards. 

The people of Chalco had for some time been asking the aid of the whites 
to throw off the Aztec yoke, but until now it had not In-en granted. Their 
entreaties had, however, become so urgent that C'ortes sent Sandoval with a 
considerable force to their assistance. But the Aztecs returned to the at- 
tack again and again ; so that Cortes, who had received a further reinforce- 
ment of two hundred men from Ilispaniola, where tho authorities were fa- 
vorable to him, was obliged to undertake the work himself. He extend- 
ed bis march considerably beyond tho limits at first proposed, reducing 
various cities on his way; and going as far south as the city of Cueruavaca, 



CORTES, THE CONQUEROR OF MEXICO. 365 

which he assaulted and captured. Turning to the north, they next attacked 
Xochimiico, a city built, like Mexico, in a lake, and connected with the land 
by causeways. These, however, were but short avenues. 

The fight was a determined one, and it seemed that the Spaniards must be 
defeated. In tiiis state of affairs, Cortes, as he had so often done before, 
threw himself into the very thick of the fight, to encourage his followers by 
his example. His immediate followers were too few to support him, and he 
was surrounded by an innumerable host of Indians. His horse lost his foot- 
ing aud fell ; Cortes received a severe blow on the head before he could dis- 
entangle himself from the stirrups; and was .seized and dragged off in tri- 
umph by his enemies, doomed to be sacrificed to the gods whom he had so 
often insulted. At this critical moment, a Tlascalan sprang upon his cap- 
tors, and attempted, single-handed, to rescue the friend of his people; two 
Spaniards followed where the heroic Indian led. Cortes, once released from 
the grasp of his enemies, sprang into his saddle, and renewed the fight. The 
cavah-y came up, and, between the two columns, the enemy was fairly cut to 
pieces or forced into the lake. 

But Guatemozin had heard that Cortes was about to advance upon Xochi- 
miico, and had raised an army for its relief. The Spaniards entrenched 
themselves in the city, and awaited the coming of the enemy. For a time, 
the result of the battle seemed doubtful; but gradually the arms and disci- 
pline of the Spaniards triumphed over the numbers of the Aztecs, and the 
latter were driven from the field with such dreadful slaughter that they made 
no attempt to renew the battle. 

Four men were captured by a party of the enemy, they having strayed away 
from their command. The Spaniards rarely allowed themselves to be taken 
alive, as they knew very well that such captives were reserved for sacrifice. 
These men were devoted to this fate ; and the ferocious young chief of Mex- 
ico caused their arms and legs to be cut off and sent around to different 
cities, with the assurance that this would be the fate of the enemies of Mex- 
ico. 

Meanwhile, Cortes was threatened by yet another danger. Some of his 
men had become dissatisfied, although they had not used his j^ermission, 
given at Tlascala, to return to Vera Cruz. To remove Cortes would be to 
give the command to some of his trusted officers, who would as persistently 
push toward the capital as he was doing, and who would besides take bloody 
vengeance on those who had killed the leader. The mutineers therefore re- 
solved to kill Cortes and all who were especially attached to him. But the 
very enormity of the plot defeated it; and one of the conspirators, unable to 
persevere in that which must lead to the death of so many gallant soldiers, 
revealed the plan to Cortes on the day before that appointed for the perpe- 
tration of the deed. The ringleader was seized by Cortes himself, and 



366 COKTKS, THE CONQUKKOK or MEXICO. 

brought to trial, found guilty, aud executed. No attempt was made, how- 
ever, to ascertain the names of others who were engaged in it; Cortes him- 
self destroying a paper containing a list of their uames. By this means he 
attached them lirmly to himself; since, conscious of their guilt, the conspira- 
tors tried to show him, by their devotion, that they had had Tiotiiing to do 
with the plot. 

The vessels for the siege of Mexico had been built in sections, and trans- 
ported to Tezcuco; but there must be a canal dug connecting the two lakes, 
' before they could reach the waters of that in the midst of which the city of 
Mexico was situated. This had at last been completed; and Cortes, having 
thus thoroughly reconnoitered the surrounding country, and reduced many 
cities to submission, returned to Tezcuco to launch his brigantines. 

His forces were more considerable than they had ever been, excepting 
during the short time that the full army of Narvaez had been under his or- 
ders. Eighty-seven cavalry, one hundred and eighteen arquebusiers and 
crossbow-men, and seven hundred foot-soldiers supplied with less formidable 
arms, made up his army, which had, for its artillery, three large field-pieces 
and fifteen falconets. 

He divided this force into three jiarts, placing one at the exti-emity of each 
causeway. Alvarado, Olid, and Sandoval were the respective commanders. 
The first duty which was assigned them was to cut off the supply of water 
from the garrison of Mexico; which was done by cutting the pipes that sup- 
plied the city with fresh water; for the lake, it should be remembered, was 
salt. This was not done without opposition; but it was accomplished; and 
in the latter part of Maj-, 1520, began the formal siege of Mexico, for which 
Cortes had been preparing for so many months. 

Cortes himself had taken conmiand of the fleet; and the first conflict in 
which ho engaged was so decided a victory that the squadron was thence- 
forth undisputed master of the lake. The prows of the great vessels bore 
down the small, light canoes of the Indians, and the guns completed the 
work thus begun. 

The city was completely blockaded by the Spaniards, but Cortes was afraid 
to trust to this means of reducing it; fearing lest his followers, and particu- 
larly his Tlascalan allies, should become tired of the siege and desert him. 
He accordingly arranged for an attack upon the city along the great cause- 
way. 

Showers of missiles fell upon them as they came; and, when they reached 
the street which continued the causeway, stones and other heavy objects were , 
rained upon them from the roofs. Cortes ordered his Indian allies, there- ^ 
fore, to demolish the buildings as they passed along; thus giving the enemy 
no such vantage-ground. 

There was a stubborn fight about the palace whicli had been assiuMicd by 



CORTES, THE CONQUEROR OF MEXICO. 367 

Montezuma to the Spaniai'ds, and that very temple whence they had once 
dislodged their enemies; but, although the victory inclined to the Spanish 
side, there was no decisive result; and t*^ 3 white men withdrew at night to 
their camps. 

This was repeated again and again; Kjut still the siege continued; for in 
spite of the utmost vigilance, the Mexicans received supplies from the neigh- 
boring cities by means of their innumei'able canoes, which often, under cover , 
of darkness, eluded the watchfulness of the Spanish sailors. It was only 
when these cities, seeing that the people of Mexico were unable to drive off 
the besieging army, concluded that it would be wisest to make terms with the 
white men, that the supplies were stopped, and famine began to threaten the 
gallant but doomed defenders of the city. 

Three months after the first assault, there was one more desperate than 
any that had preceded it. In this, Cortes, who was mounted, and at the head 
of a division, was stopped by a chasm in the causeway, and thus unable to 
effect a junction with others of his forces. Here he was vigorously assailed 
by the Indians, six of them attacking him at one time; he was rescued by his 
faithful followers, biit so seriously wounded that, after the reti'eat had been 
sounded, he was obliged to confide the direction of affairs to Sandoval for a 
few days. In this fight, sixty-two of the Spaniards were taken alive; and 
from the camps their comrades could see them led to sacrifice at the summit 
of the pyramid, bound on the altar, and the heart torn from the body before 
it ceased to beat. The bleeding body was then hurled down the slope, where 
thousands were waiting to receive this material for a horrible banquet. 

The triumphant Mexicans boldly shouted out to the besiegers the prophe- 
cies of their priests, that their gods had been appeased, and had again taken 
the Aztecs under their protection. Within eight days, they asserted, their 
enemies would be delivered into their hands. 

Alarmed by this prediction, the Indian allies who had gathered around the 
standard of Cortes from all the neighboring country began to desert him ; 
and even the Tlascalans fell off in considerable numbers. The eight days 
passed away ; and the allies who had thus wavered in their allegiance returned 
to the Spanish camp. 

But Cortes had formed a new plan. He had experienced much difficulty 
from the condition of the causeways and from the canals which intersected 
so many of the streets; he resolved that every building in the city should be 
destroyed as fast as his troops gained possession, and the materials be used 
for filling up the breaches in the causeways and the canals. He set the ex 
ample himself of engaging in this work, that none of the proud hidalgoes 
might wish to excuse themselves; and found willing assistants by thousands 
among the Indians. 

Having made these preparations for the complete destruciion of the city, 



3G8 CORTES, THE CONQUEROK OF MEXICO. 

Cortes sent thi-cc envoys to the Emperor, to demand a capitulation. Coun- 
cils were held; but the advice of the priests, who knew tliat submission to 
the white men meant their destruction, prevailed; and after two dnys the 
Spaniards received an answer to their demand in a general sortie of tiie Az- 
tec forces. The guns were so arranged, however, tiiat they weie driven back 
without much difficulty. Day after day they would rush upon the men en- 
gaged in tearing down buildings or tilling up their carefully constructed 
canals; but day after day the destruction of the beautiful city went on. 

Famine, thirst, and disease among the beleaguered people were assisting 
the besiegers. Seven-eighths of the city had been laid in ruins, and the great 
temple had been given to the flames. All efforts to secure a surrender of the 
Mexicans had failed, and Coi'tes determined to make one last assault, which 
should be final. 

It was the l.^th of August, 1521. The battle speedily became a butchery. 
Guatemozin attempted to fly in a canoe, but was captured. The news that he 
was taken spread among his followers, and the fight, which seemed to have 
been maintained simply to cover his retreat, ended. Mexico had been con- 
quered. 

The number of the Aztecs and their allies who survived the siege and were 
permitted by Cortes to withdraw to the surrounding country, is variously 
given; the estimates ranging from thirty to seventy thousand men, exclusive 
of non-combatants. Authorities differ, also, as to the number of those who 
fell during the siege ; the figures ranging from one hundred and twenty thou- 
sand to two hundred and forty thousand. Whatever the numbers of the 
Aztecs may have been, the concpiest of Mexico, viewed as a military achieve- 
ment, is simply wonderful. 

But although the Sjiauiards had crushed the Aztec power forever, they had 
failed in one thing: the amount of treasure found fell far short of their ex- 
pectations ; it was not even equal to the amount which they themselves had 
been obliged to abandon when they fled from the city on the "Melancholy 
Night." The soldiers clamored for Guatemozin to be put to the torture, that 
he might be forced to reveal where the treasure was hidden; Cortes resisted 
this demand until it was broadly hinted that he had a secret understanding 
M'ith the Aztec monarch, by which the soldiers and his imperial master 
Charles V. would be equally defrauded. Then, to save his own honor, he 
yielded, and allowed the Emperor and his jjrincipal minister to be put to the 
torture. It is reported that while the Spaniards were stirring the fire 
which burnt below the gridiron upon which the two victims were extended, 
the minister turned his head towards his master and apparently begged him 
to speak, in order to put an end to their tortures; but that (Juatemozin re- 
proved this single moment of weakness by these words : " And I, am I assist- 
ing at some pleasure, or am I in the bath?"' An answer which has been prac- 



CORTKS, THE CON(jUEROR OF MEXICO. 



3(J9 



tically changed into, "And I, do 1 lie upon roses?" But all that could be 
learned from the tortured prince was that much gold had been throvvn into 
the water. The lake was dragged, but very little was recovered. 




The 'J'oinuRiNO op Guatemozin and His Ministku, 

A detachment sent out by Cortes penetrated to the borders of the Pacific, 
at a point farther north than any white man had yet reached its shores. 
Taking possession of it in the name of the Emperor, they returned by a more 
northerly route, and brought rich specimens of gold and California pearls. 
Cortes, his imagination excited by the idea of having reached the Pacific by 
this route, at once set about making preparations for a colony on its shores. 

Coi'tes was also busily occupied in rebuilding the city of Mexico, having 



370 COKTES, TllK CONWl KKOK OK .MKXICO. 

decided that this was the best site for tlie capital of New Spain. lie also 
dispatched niessenjrers to Spain, bcarinfi the imi»ciial fifth of the spoils, and 
a letter announcing the conquest of the country. The treasure, however, 
fell into the hands of a French privateer, by whom it was transmitted to the 
King of France; and the letters were delivered alone. 

But before these letters were delivered, there had been strong influence at 
work against Cortes at the court; and it did not cease to be exerted when 
the news of his achievements reached Spain. We have neither space nor 
inclination for the petty details of court intrigue; but after both sides had 
appealed to the Emperor with all the eloquence that they could muster, 
Charles Y. referred the whole matter to the decision of a l)oard selected for 
that purpose. Fonseca and Velasquez pleaded that Cortes had exceeded his 
powers, had trampled onthe rights of the natives, had embezzled the Enqjcr- 
or's share of the spoils, and was scjuandering the public revenues in rebuild- 
ing the cai)ital on a plan of such magnificence. The friends of Cortes re- 
plied by showing the falsity of these claims; they could easily prove that the 
Emperor had received more than one-fifth, and, having refuted every other 
argument of their antagonists, brought forward that which was unansw('ral)ly 
triumphant — the splendid results of this expedition, which had added such a 
vast empire to Spain. 

'* Nothing succeeds like success," and the board decided that neither Fon- 
seca nor Velasquez should attempt to interfere with Cortes, whose acts were 
fully confirmed. The Conqueror — El Conquistadn, the old Spanish chronic- 
lers love to call him — was named Governor, Captain-(ieneral, and Chief-Jus- 
tice of New Spain, with power to ai)point to all oUices, and to banish any one 
from the country whose presence there he judged prejudicial to the interests 
of the Crown. An ample salary was decreed him, to enable him to support 
the dignity of his position; and his followers were rewarded with the praise 
of their royal master and ample grants- of land. 

Some two years after the conquest, Cortes had sent Olid with a sufficient 
force to establish a colony in Honduras. News reached him that Olid, sup- 
posing himself at a safe distance from Mexico, had asserted his independence 
of Cortes, and proposed to govern this colony without any superior but the 
Emperor. Cortes sent an expedition under Las Casas to reduce the rebel to 
subjection. This expedition was wrecked, but subseqHently reached land, 
marched against Olid, defeated him, and he was put to death as a traitor. 

Cortes, however, heard only of the shipwreck; and, determined that his au- 
thority should be upheld, marched in person against Olid. While on the way, 
which presented almost incredible ditiiculties, he learned that the Indians 
who accompanied him had plotted against him. Since the conquest had been 
accomjilished, he had kept Guateinozin constantly at his side; fearing treach- 
ery on his part. This information implicated the late chief of the Aztecs as 



CORTES, THE CONQUEROR OF MEXICO. 371 

the ringleader; and Cortes seized him and some others, hastily tried them, 
condemned them to death, and hanged them on a tree by the wayside. 

Arrived at his destination, Cortes found that the matter had been settled 
without the need of his intervention. He remained in Honduras for sometime, 
arranging the affairs of the colony; and returned to Mexico at the urgent 
solicitation of his friends; for the government there Avas falling into anarchy, 
and the report of his death was current. His enemies even went so far as to 
seize upon his property, wherever any could be found, in the name of the 
State. 

His return to Mexico was hailed with delight by the people; and he a* 
once set about restoring order. His action regarding those who had in bis 
absence set his authority at naught is by some condemned as weak ; but, since 
he was the one to suffer by it, this may be regarded as no blemish in his 
character. 

But, although Fonseca and Velasquez had both died within a year after the 
decision which forbade them to interfere with Cortes, there were still many 
about the Court who envied him; and, in accordance with their representa- 
tions, a commissioner was appointed to inquire into his administration of af- 
fairs. This was no unusual thing in the case of a governor entrusted with 
the almost absolute power which had been given to Cortes; and the selection 
of the commissioner, in this instance, showed that it was no sign of the Em- 
peror's displeasure. But the commissioner died within a short time after his 
arrival in Mexico, and thedeputy whom he named his successor was an enemy 
of Cortes. 

This man, Estrada, seemed to delight in annoying Cortes as much as possi- 
ble; his recommendations were disregarded; his friends were mortified or in- 
sulted; his attendants were outraged by injuries; and when he protested 
against the infliction of a severe punishment for a trifling offense, the offen- 
der being a servant of his faithful cavalier Sandoval, he was actually ordei'ed 
to leave the city. 

" It is well that those," he said, in bitter irony, " who at the price of their 
blood have won the capital, should not be allowed a footing in it." 

His followers would have taken up arms in his defense; but he forbade all 
resistance of Estrada's authority, and quietly retired to a villa which he pos- 
sessed, a short distance from the city. 

Meanwhile, his enemies at the Court were not yet satisfied, but managed to 
insinuate that there was danger of his asserting his independence of the 
Crown. But the friends of Cortes were equally active, and jsrocured the re- 
call of Estrada. He was superseded by a commission entitled the Eoyal Au- 
dience of Spain. These officers were instructed to send Cortes to Spain; 
peaceably if possible, forcibly if they must. 

He had for some time been considering the question of i-eturning and lay- 



3(2 CORTES, THE CONQUEROR OF iMKXICO. 

ingthis iiffiiir hefore tlie Emperor; and had about inado up his mind to do so 
when tlioconunissioners arrived. His intention created a sensation through 
tlie eountry; and the commissioners saw at onee that tilings had been carried 
toofar. Theytried to compromise the matter; butalthough Cortes nietthem 
with friendly courtesy, he could not be persuaded to adopt any other course. 

He arrived in Spain in May, l.'!J28. Some time was h)st by illness, and 
some was spent in devotion before a favorite shrine, before he presented 
himself at court. His simple and manly elo(pienee, backed by the magnetic 
qualities of his manner, and the knowledge of the great deeds that he had 
achieved, scattered the plans of his enemies likc^ chaff before the wind; and 
the Emperor received him with marked favor. It is even recorded, with due 
solemnity, befitting the narration of an event of great importance, that on 
one occasion, when Cortes hiy sick of a fever, the Emperor actually visited 
liim, and remained some time in the sick chamber; and the historians seem 
to think that this alone was ample reward for all that he had endi'"ed and 
all that he had accomplished. 

But other and more substantial rewards were given him. It was thought 
then and there that the title of Marquis of the Valley of Oaxaca was no mere 
empty honor, and even the republican simplicity of our own day does not en- 
tirely disdain such titles when they are won by the bearer; in addition to 
this, Cortes was granted a vast tract of land in the rich province from which 
the title of his marquisate was taken, his domain containing more than 
twenty towns and villages, with twenty-three thousand vassals. The lan- 
guage in which this grant was expressed, acknowledging in the amplest terms 
the "good services rendered b}' Cortes — the sufferings he had undergone 
• * * * and the fidelity and obedience with which, as a good and trusty 
vassal, he had ever served the Crown," made it all the more valuable in the 
eyes of the faithful servant who was thus rewarded. 

We have alluded to the use of the terra Con(iueror to designate Cortes; 
from this time forth he has another title — the Martjuis; and the title alone, 
without the name of the individual, is used to indicate Cortes, just as the ti- 
tle the Admiral is used to designate Columbus. 

But although the Emperor was quite willing to heap honors upon Cortes, 
he was not willing to reinstate him in the position which he had held. Per- 
haps Charles was not fully convinced that the Concpieror had no intention of 
becoming the independent sovereign of Mexico. At any rate, he steadily re- 
fused to appoint him to the civil government; finally investing him with the 
military authority, under the title of Captain-General of IS'ew Spain and of 
the coasts of the South Seas. 

Early in the spring of l^'M, Cortes again set sail for Xew Spain ; being em- 
powered to malcc discoveries in the South Seas, with the i-ight to rule over 
such lands as he should colonize. Being delayed two mouths at Cuba, ho 



COKTES, THE CONQUEROR OF MEXICO. 373 

did uot reach Villa Rica until the middle of July. But the Royal Audience 
treated him with such contumely that he withdrew to the city of Cuernavaca, 
withiu the limits of his marquisate, which thenceforth became his favorite 
residence. 

A tranquil life did not long content him, however; he was soon busily en- 
gaged in fitting out a squadron for the exploration of the Gulf of California. 
The first squadron was scattered and wrecked, and Cortes undertook the com- 
mand of a second fleet in person. But he was not much more successful. It 
is true that the coast was explored for a short distance; but he encountered 
such storms, and met with such hardships, from famine and other causes, 
that he was glad to return to the port whence he had set out. A third expe- 
dition, this time under the command of a lieutenant, proved more successful; 
and the Gulf of California was explored along its whole coast, the southern 
point of the peninsula doubled, and the line of the western coast followed to 
a point as high as the twenty-ninth degree of latitude. In these and previous 
expeditions sent out by Cortes, the western coast of North America had been 
explored from the Gulf of Panama almost to the southern boundary of the 
United States. The Spaniards have shown their ajjpreciation of his services 
to the science of cosmography by naming the great body of water between 
Mexico and the peninsula of California, the Sea of Cortes. 

But his schemes of further explorations were interrupted by the new Vice- 
roy, Mendoza; who had heard rumors of vast mines of gold to the northwest, 
and claimed the right of exploration for himself, as the representative of the 
Crown. Cortes protested against this claim, as encroaching upon his rights 
as Captain-General of New Spain and the Coasts of the South Seas; and, the 
dispute being still unsettled, resolved to go to Spain to maintain his rights. 

He embarked in 1540, accompanied by his eldest son, a boy of eight years. 
The Emperor was absent from Spain at the time of his arrival, so that his 
suit could not be decided. He was received with marked honors, however, 
by the Royal Council of the Indies; but they were but empty honors. . 

We find him taking an active part in the expedition which the Emperor 
led against Algiers in 1541. The siege, which was designed to break up a 
nest of pirates, was at last abandoned. Cortes offered to reduce the place 
himself, if a force were given him; and regretted, in the hearing of the coun- 
cil of war, that he had not a few of the veterans who had followed him to the 
conquest of Mexico; but his advice was rejected, and his offer derided, as 
that of a romantic enthusiast. 

But the magnificence of this conquest was now dimmed by the gleam of the 
gold being sent home by Pizarro; and Cortes himself was regarded as a man 
too old to render much service to the Crown. lie came to be looked upon 
as a person whose claims were too large to be allowed. " He found, like Col- 
umbus, that it was possible to deserve too greatly.'' Wearied by the tlelay 



374 CORTES, THE CONQIEROR OF .MEXICO. 

with which lie met everywhere, he at last resolved to api>roaili the Kniperor 
directly. He made his way through the press that surrounded the imperial 
carriage, and mounted its steps. 

" Who is that man? " demanded Charles, conveniently failing to recognize 
him. 

" I am the man, sire," replied Cortes, with a pride equal to his own, " who 
has given you more provinces than your ancestors left you cities." 

The years passed on, and still the Council of the Indies had not reached a 
decision, to he submitted to the .sovereign for his approval. The last letter 
which Cortes addressed to the Emperor was dated in February, 1544. In this 
he begged that the Council of the Indies and the other tribunals which had 
cognizance of his suits might be ordered to come to a decision; but the order 
was never given; and, after waiting three years more, he resolved to return to 
Mexico. 

He had gone as far as Seville, when he fell sick; and the disappointments 
which he had suffered so preyed upon his mind as to affect his bodily ailment. 
Finding that his strength was rapidly failing, he executed his will, Oct. 11, 
l.")47. Finding that the constant stream of visitors annoyed him in his weak- 
ness, he withdrew to the neighboring village of Castillcja de la Cue.sta, and 
there awaited death with the same courage with which he had faced it ou the 
lield of battle or in the beleagured city. 

It came Dec. 2, l.HT. To the silent dust were accorded those honors which 
had often been denied to the living man. His remains were lirst interred 
in a chapel of a monastery in Seville; but afterwards removed to the New 
World. No less than five sepulchres at various times received the remains 
of the conqueror of Mexico, before the revolution' which made that country 
independent of Spain. In 1823, the mob, anxious to show its contempt for 
all connected with the Spanish government, sought to break open his tomli 
in the capital, and fling his ashes to the wind; but friends of the family en- 
tered the vault by night, and secretly removed the relics to a place of safety. 



CHAPTER XII. 
FRANCISCO PIZARRO, THE DISCOVERER OF PERU. 

To America — San Sebastian— Grim I-)eterminatiou — Darien — First Expedition to Peru- 
Hunger — Attacked by Natives — Pizarro's Desj)erate Situation — Return to Panama — Second 
Expedition to Peru — Exploring Party — Reinforcements — Dispute between Pizarro and 
Almagro — The Drover and the Butcher — Pizarro's Address to His Men — -Wonderful Stories — 
Return to Panama — The Tliird Expedition Planned — Pizarro Goes to Spain — The Great 
Capitulation — Deceived ( XBcials — Discontent of Almagro — Embarkation at Panama — The Land 
of Emeralds — Outrage Upon the Natives — Disaster an<l Disappointment — Reconnoiteriug and 
Exploring — San Miguel Founded— Into the Heart of Peru — Pizarro sends Malcontents Back — 
Envoy from the Inca — Crossing the Andes — An Embassy to the Inca — Seizure of Atahualpa 
Planned — The Inca Enters Caxamalca — A Call to the Unconverted — Atahualpa's Resentment 
— Slaughter of the Peruvians — Pizarro Defends Atahualpa — The Inca a Prisoner — He Offers 
Ransom — Immensity of the Treasure Promised — Atahualpa's Rival Murdered — Silver Horse 
Shoes — Reinforcements — Atahualpa Brought to Trial — His Execution — De Soto's Rebuke — 
Story of Pizarro's Resentment — To Cuzco — Challcuchima's Rebellion and Punishment — Manco's 
Submission — Spoil of Cuzco — Pizarro Assumes Title of Governor — He Builds Lima — A Jlessen- 
ger to Spain — New Recruits — Difficulties with Almagro — Almagro Leaves for Chili — Jlanco 
Escapes — Battles with the Peruvians — Cuzco Besieged — Almagro's Disasters — Returns from 
Chili and Takes Cuzco — Agreement between Pizarro and Almagro — Capture, Trial, and 
Condemnation of Almagro — His Execution — A Mission to Spain — Investigation Ordered — 
Conspiracy of the Men of Chili — -The Plot Betrayed — Pizarro Attacked — " Down with the 
Tyrant!'' — Death of Pizarro — Burial. 

'OME time about the year 1471, in the city of Truxillo, in the pro- 
vince of Estremadura, Spain, was born a boy who was christened 
Francisco ; his father being Gonzalo Pizarro, a colonel of infantry, 
who had served with some distinction in foreign wars. 

In 1510, Alonzo de Ojeda, the gallant cavalier who had followed Colum- 
bus to Hispaniola, fitted out an expedition from that island to form a settle- 
ment on the continent. His partner in this enterprise was a Spanish lawyer, 
usually called the Bachelor Enciso, being a bachelor of laws; Enciso re- 
mained in Hispaniola to gather up recruits and perform various other duties 
connected with the founding of the colony, while Ojeda assumed the more 
dangerous and adventurous task of finding a place for its establishment. 

The isthmus which connects the continents had been granted to Ojeda and 
a rival, the line between the two provinces being carefully marked out; that 
which was assigned to Ojeda was the more southern, and he had decided 
that his colony should be on the coast of what is now called the Gulf of Da- 
rien. The expedition prospered fairly well; the site was selected, a fort and 
the necessary buildings put up, and Ojeda returned to Hispaniola for sup- 
plies; leaving, as the commander of the garrison, Francisco Pizarro. 

Those who remained at San Sebastian, as the colony was called, agreed to 

375 




Mi) 



I'l/AKIUI, Tl 



DISCOVKKKU OF, I'KKr. 



wait tifty days for tlie leturii of Ojcda. Should he not conic or send by that 
time, they wore to return to Ilispaniola, if they so desired. The time went 
by, and Ojcda neitlier came nor sent. Hut here arose another difficulty: the 
two small brijjantincs which they had would not acconnnodate the seventy 




Francisco Pizahro. 

men who composed the garrison. The character of Pizarro is shown by the 
determination at which the colonists, threatened daily by disease, famine, 
and the poisoned arrows of the Indians, ai-rived: they would wait until the.se 
three agrencios had .so reduced their numbers that the survivors could find 
transportation on the vessels they possessed. 



PIZARRO, THE DISCOVERER OF PERU. 377 

These terrible days of waiting for each other to die were not man> ; and, 
killing the four horses and salting their flesh, they made such other prepa- 
rations for the voyage as lay within their means. The two brigantines sailed 
toward Hispaniola; but one was wrecked in a storm, going down with all on 
board before the eyes of those in the other vessel, unable to extend a help- 
ing hand. The other, of which Pizarro was the commander, kept its course 
until the harbor of Carthagena was reached. Here the returning colonists 
fell in with Enciso, who was on his way to San Sebastian with considerable 
reinforcements and the necessary supplies. 

With great difficulty, and by exercising all the authority which the ap- 
pointment of the Crown had given him — this most ably seconded by the fact 
that he had a much larger force, well-armed and well-fed, at his back — En- 
ciso succeeded in persuading Pizarro to return with him to the main land. 
For a while, his history is obscured by the history of the colony; he held so 
low a rank that the chronicler could give him no attention. 

He attached himself to the fortunes of Balboa; and when that splendid 
figure put on the trappings of the Governor of Darien, Pizarro became one 
of his most trusted lieutenants. He was one of those who followed Balboa 
across the isthmus in 1513, and saw, for the first time, the great Pacific- 
stretching away to the South. When Balboa fell into difficulties, Pizarro 
seemed to have kept clear of danger ; and attached himself to Don Pedro Arias 
de Avila. The present writer does not mean to uphold or condemn Pizarro 
for this course; it is hard to see how a faithful follower who has been re- 
garded with affection by his chief can fail to share that chief's misfortunes, 
unless there is cold-blooded desertion of the falling house; but it may be 
urged in excuse that Pizarro had been reared in a rough school; probably 
from his infancy he had been accustomed to fight his way; receiving cuffs 
and curses from those who were stronger than he, and ready to pass them on 
to those who were weaker. 

Employed by Avila in several minor expeditions against the ludians sur- 
rounding the settlement, he gained by these means the training which was 
so useful to him afterward. The most noted of these, in the light of future 
events, was in 1515, when he was selected as one of the leaders of an expedi- 
tion which M'as to cross the isthmus and trade with the natives. It was then, 
probably, that he first conceived the idea of extending his journey toward 
that southern Land of Gold of which Balboa had heard. 

It might be thought that after Balboa's death, Avila would have hastened 
to explore the country in which such immense wealth was said to exist; but 
there is a record of only one expedition, before that undertaken by PizaiTo; 
and this did not go any farther than the part of the coast which had already 
been explored by Balboa. 

But although this enterprise had not been successful, it had prepared the 



378 PIZARRO, THE DISCOVERER OF PERU. 

public mind to take a keen interest in the subject of gold-seeking in the 
South. Under such circumstances, Pizarro, who had been assigned, as the 
reward of his military services, a tract of land and a certain number of In- 
dian slaves to work it, formed the plan of heading such an expedition iiini- 
sclf. Ho was too poor, however, to bear aM the expenses; and two others 
became his partners in the venture. One of these was Diego de Alniagro, a 
soldier of fortune who was probably a little older than Pizarro, and not 
much better off; the third was Hernando de Luque, vicar of Panama, and 
formerly schoolmaster at Darien. The priest furnished the greater part of 
the funds for the expedition, and probably was instrumental in securing the 
permission of the Governor for undertaking such a venture. Authoritie.- 
differ as to whether Avila contributed anything to the expenses or not; but 
certainly he stipulated that he should have a share in the profits. 

Two small vessels were purchased, the larger having been built by Balboa 
for an expedition to the south, but it had lain dismantled in the harbor of 
Panama since his death. This was speedily fitted out, and something more 
than a hundred idle, reckless adventurers, who had not yet made their for- 
tunes in this New World, enlisted. Pizarro set sail from Panama about the 
middle of November, 1524; leaving Almagro to follow in the smaller vessel as 
soon as it could be prepared. 

Almagro had counted upon their being able to obtain provisions in plenty 
from the natives as they went on ; but they were tossed about on the angry 
waves, and ran short both of food and water. When they at last landed, it 
was only to make their toilsome way through dense forests where no sound 
was heard but the splashing of the rain on the leaves, and of their own foot- 
steps as they sank into the deep oozy mud. For it was the rainy season, 
when discomfort and danger of disease attend the traveler through these 
lands. 

His men began to murmur loudly; but Pizarro was determined not to go 
back and acknowledge that he had failed. He soothed their discontent with 
a promise of supplies; and sent one of his officers back to the Isle of Pearls 
with the ship and nearly half of the company. 

No trace of native habitations could be found; and the wretched Span- 
iards were reduced to feeding on such roots and berries as they could find in 
the woods. Some of these proved poisonous; and some of those who re- 
fused to risk death by this means died of starvation. 

More than twenty of his followers had died, yet Pizarro, sharing all their 
discomforts, retained his cheerfulness and resolution; and, by his efforts to 
obtain food for them and his unwearied care of the sick, made himself be- 
loved by these rough soldiers of fortune. 

As they wandered almost hopelessly through the woods, they emerged at 
last into an open ^pace, where they found an Indian village. The inhabitants 



I'IZAKRO, THE UlSCOVEKEK OK PEKl'. 379 

fled at first; aud tlie famished Spaniards, rushing to the huts, seized 
upon the provisions. Gathering confidence as they saw what necessity had 
compelled this deed, and not so well acqainted with the Spaniards in general 
as to know that, hungry or well-fed, they respected no Indian rights, the na- 
tives returned to their village, and naively inquired why the white men did 
not stay at home and cultivate their own land, instead of roaming about to 
rob others. Had they been better acquainted with the new-comers, the poor 
Indians would have known that the rude golden ornaments which they wore 
were more attractive to the white men, when once their hunger was appeased,' 
than all that could be won by agriculture. 

After more than six weeks, the vessel brought the supplies for which it had 
been sent; and the expedition proceeded on its way. Pizarro kept close to 
shore, " wandering in the dark, feeling his way along inch by inch, as it were, 
without chart to guide him, without knowledge of the seas or of the bearings 
of the coast, and even with no better defined idea of the object at which he 
aimed than that of a land, teeming with gold, that lay in the south." 

Having cast anchor off a bold i)oint of land which he named Punta Que- 
mada, Pizarro disembarked, with the greater part of his force, to explore the 
interior, which he believed to be inhabited. Less than a league from the 
coast he found a village, defended by palisades, and larger than any that he 
had seen. It was deserted at their approach, and the Spaniards helped them- 
selves to the golden ornaments which they found in the huts. But the Indian 
warriors had held council; aud when the Spaniards attempted to recounoiter 
the country, they were suddenly attacked by unnumbered foes, springing 
from their ambush in the hills. The fight was a stubborn one, though the 
ground was continually shifted, as the natives would retreat, only to advance 
again to the attack from another and unexpected quarter. Pizarro was 
speedily recognized by them as the leader of their enemies, and directing 
their missiles at him more than at his followers, they succeeded in inflicting 
seven wounds, although he was clad in armor. 

The Spaniards were at last driven back by the fury of their innumerable 
assailants; and Pizarro, as they retreated down the slope of the hill, defend- 
ing themselves as they went, slipped and fell to the rain-soaked earth. The 
boldest of the Indians, uttering their savage war-cry, sprang forward to dis- 
patch him ; but on his feet in an instant, in spite of the heavy armor which 
encumbered him, he struck down two, and held the rest at bay until his fol- 
lowers came to his rescue. The Indian, whether of North or South Amer- 
ica, has a great respect for a man who fights hand-to-hand, rather than with 
missile weapons; aud, in admiring fear of Pizarro's prowess, they faltered in 
the attack. At this moment, the remainder of the force which had landed, 
which had become separated from him, came up; and, by the united exertions 
of all, the Indians were driven from the field. 



380 l'l/..\UK(), TlIK UIMUVICHKK or 1-KKl . 

It was decided, however, by the Spaniards iu coiiiuil, tliat they were in no 
condition to go on; and the vessel returneil to Panama. Pizarro liiniself re- 
mained at Chicama; for ho was unwilling to present himself before the (lov- 
ernor before he had succeeded. Hero lie was joined by Almagro, who had 
followed in Pizarro's track, and, having leached tiie fourth dcgicc of ninth 
latitude without meeting him, had turned back. A system of notching the 
trees, simihir to tiiat by which a North American pioneer "l)lazes " his way 
through tiie pathless woods, enabled Ahnagro to identify tlie places at 
which ho had landed as being the same where I'izarro had touched. 

Both felt nuicli encouraged by the success with wliich tiiey had already met ; 
for although the amount of gold obtained was not in itself consicU'rable, the 
linding of such ornaments in outlying villages gave rich promise of tiie treas- 
ure of the capital. They resolved to tit out another expedition; and, iu pros- 
ecution of this resolve, Almagro set out forPamima, to secure the contiimed 
good-will of the Governor, while Pizario remained at Chicama. 

Avila was not easily persuaded to consent to a second cxi)cdition ; charg- 
ing Pizarro, particularly, with tiie loss of nuxny of his folh)\vers. Wlieu he 
finally gave the desired permission, as Father Luque persuaded him to do, he 
named Almagro as equal in command with Pizarro; although in the first ex- 
pedition there had been a difference nuulc between them. 

A compact was made, and signed March 10, 1,52(5, between the three men 
interested in the first expedition. Fatimr Lu(jue was the only one of the 
three who could write his name, the signatuics of the otiiers being nuirks, 
attested by three respectable citizens of Panama. According to the terms 
of this agreement, the proceeds of the expedition were to be divided equally 
among the men who had planned the former expedition, Pizarro, Almagro, 
and Fatiier Luque; the soldiers were to do the work, while the priest fur- 
nished the money, twenty thousand jje.sos de orn; other documents of the time 
show that in this he was acting as the agent of another person, to whom he 
assigned all the rights guaranteed him by this instrument. The Governor of 
Pananui, who had had, as will be remembered, an interest in the first expedi- 
tion, now concluded that a bird in the hand was worth two iu tiie bush; and 
formally resigned to the adventurers all claim to a share in their profits, for 
! he consideration of one thousand /k.so.s- tie oro. 

Two vessels were purchased, somewhat larger than those which had been 
jascd before; and stores were laid in, on a somewhat more liberal scale. But 
(it was not easy to get recruits for the venture; nearly one-fourth of those who 
had followed Pizarro and Amalgro to the South had died there; and thecon- 
dition of the survivors, ragged and half-starved as they were, did not bear out 
the promise of rich booty to be obtained. Strangely enough, however, some 
of these very men re-enlisted; and about one hundred and sixty, in all, were 
mustered. A few horses were bought, and ammunition and military stores; 



PIZARRO, THE DISCOVERER OF PERU. 381 

but there was great difBculty in obtaining anything of the kind, since every- 
thing must be brought across the rugged barrier of the mountains which are* 
continued along the isthmus. 

Standing out to sea, they only sailed toward the shore when near the lati- 
tude of the furthest point which Almagrohad reached, the mouth of the Rio 
de San Juan. Landing here, they attacked an Indian village, and carried off 
a considerable booty of gold ornaments, with a few of the natives. 

The leaders knew very well that their force was too small ; and it was now 
■lecided that this first success should be used to secure reinforcements. Al- 
magro returned to Panama, to carry the news of the treasure which they had 
secured; the pilot, Bartholomew Ruiz, with the other vessel, reconnoitered 
the coast to the south; while Pizarro, with the rest of the force, was to re- 
main in the neighborhood of the river. 

Ruiz went as far south as Cape Pasado, about half a degree south of the 
equator; his vessel being the first under the command of a white man that, 
sailing down the Pacific coast, had passed the Line. The one important event 
of this voyage was his meeting with a kind of raft, which was remarkable as 
being the first instance with which the Europeans had met of a native vessel 
with a sail. Intercourse with the Indians on board only increased his aston- 
ishment ; their fine wool garments, dyed in the most brilliant colors, the rich- 
ness of their ornaments and of the gold and silver articles which they were 
carrying to a certain point for trading, even a pair of scales for weighingthe 
precious metals, all these indicated a higher degree of civilization than had 
yet been found among the Indians. In addition to this, his interest was still 
further aroused by the assertion that some degrees to the south there was a 
country, whose fields were covered with large flocks of the animals from 
whose backs the wool for theirclothes was obtained, and that gold and silver 
were as common as wood in the palaces of its ruler. Seizing some of these 
Indians, Ruiz returned to the rendezvous; considering that Pizarro had bet- 
ter hear the stories from their own lips; and also, that when these captives 
should have learned Spanish, they would-be valuable as interpreters. 

This report, and the arrival of Almagro with a reinforcement of about 
eighty men and a quantity of supplies, somewhat encouraged those who had 
renniined at the mouth of the river with Pizarro, and who had been almost 
on the point of deserting their commander. 

As they proceeded on their way, there were many evidences that the long- 
sought land of gold was almost at hand ; but the inhabitants appeared to be a 
war-like people, ready to defend their country against the invasion of the 
Spaniards. On one occasion, Pizarro had landed with a body of his men, 
wishing for a conference with the Indians; but they seemed eager to fight, 
and he could not make them understand that he came in peace; arms and ar- 
mor seemed to tell them that he and his followers were hostile. The Span- 



PTZAERO, THE DISCOVERER OF PERU. 383 

iards, hotly pressed by an enemy far outnumbering them, might have fared 
badly had not one of their cavaliers been thrown by his horse. The Indians 
were so astonished at this division of what seemed a single being into two sep- 
arate creatures, neither of which seemed to suffer by the separation, that 
they fell back, and the Spaniards, taking advantage of the pause, regained 
their vessels in safety. 

The Spaniards again saw that their force was inadequate to the work which 
they had undertaken. Almagro proposed to return once more to Panama for 
recruits; Pizarro objected to this division of duties, as he was left to contend 
with hardships, while his colleague was comparatively safe from them. Al- 
nuigro offered to be the one to remain ; but the dispute which had arisen was 
not easilj' settled; and-they came almost to blows. Finally, however, it was 
decided that Almagro's first plan should be adopted; and they set about find- 
ing some safe and convenient spot for Pizarro's quarters. 

To avoid the natives, who appeared everywhere hostile, and the uninhabit- 
able wastes of forest farther north, it was decided to encamp on the little is- 
land of Gallo. But against this, the soldiers who were to remain, protested 
bitterly; and wrote many letters to their friends and acquaintances at Pan- 
ama, to be carried by the vessel in which Almagro sailed. That commander 
defeated their purpose, as he thought, by seizing all letters ; but one had been 
too wary for him. A soldier named Sarabia had obtained a ball of cotton, 
which he wished to send to the Governor's wife as a sample of the products 
of the counti-y. It looked innocent enough, and was delivered to the lady; 
who found inside of it a letter accusing the two commanders of having placed 
their followers in the most miserable condition; and calling on the authorities 
of Panama to interfei-e by sending a vessel to rescue them. The letter closed 
with a bitter characterization, in verse, of the two commanders as partners in 
a slaughter-house ; the doggerel is thus rendered by Prescott: — 

" Look out, Senor Governor, 

For the drover while he's near; 
Since he goes home to get the sheep 

For the butcher, who stays here." 

Don Pedro de los Rios had succeeded Avila as the governor of the colony; 
and he gave orders, as soon as his wife brought this letter to his notice, that 
two ships should be dispatched to bring home the adventurers. But the 
same vessel carried to Pizarro letters from Almagro and Lupue promising as- 
sistance if he would only remain where he was. 

To a man of Pizarro's determination there was only a faint gleam of hope 
necessary. Drawing a line on the sandy beach with his sword he thus ad- 
dressed his wavering followers: — 

" Friends and comrades, on that side are toil, hunger, nakedness, the 
drenching storm, desertion, and death; on this side, ease and pleasui-e. There 



384 riZAKUo, the discoverkk oi' tkri'. 

lies Peru with its riches; here, Panama and its jjovertv. Choose, each inau, 
what best becomes a brave Castiiian. For my part, I go to the South."' 

As he stopped across the lino, he was instantly followed by liuiz; then, a 
moment afterward, by Pedro do Candia and eleven others. This conduct 
the oflicer sent with the vessels regarded as rebellion against the authority of 
the Governor, who had sent for them to return ; he refused to leave one of 
the vessels with the fourteen determined men — for Pizarro had dispatched his 
own ship to Panama for repairs — and it was only with difficulty that he was 
persuaded to give them a part of the stores which had been sent for the re- 
lief of the party. He consented, however, to allow Ruiz to return to Panama 
in his ship, to co-operate with Almagro and Lutpie in securing assistance. 

Nor was it easy to obtain from the Governor permission to tit out a vessel 
to go to Pizarro's aid. At length this was accomplished, but only on the 
condition that Pizarro should return to Panama, whatever came about, within 
six months. 

While the vessel was being prepared, Pizarro and his companions deter- 
mined to move their quarters to the neighboring island of (iorgona, which 
possessed several advantages. Here they remained for seven months ; trying 
to give each other courage, and persuade themselves that their mission of 
rapine and blood was under the direct protection of Heaven, by constant de- 
votional exercises. At last the vessel came, but it brought no new recruits; 
and the little handful of men sailed away to the unknown South. 

The first place of any importance whore they landed was Tumbez, on the 
Gulf of Guayaquil. Here thc^y were received very kindly by the wondering na- 
tives; those who had been taken prisoner by Ruiz assuring their countrymen 
that the Spaniards were a wonderful race, who had come thither for no harm, 
but solely to become acquainted with the country and its inhabitants. Per- 
haps these captives believeil what they said; but how much they had been de- 
ceived if they did! 

The Spaniards were visited by a native who was evidently a nobleman, who 
seems to have come officially to investigate the strangers. Pizarro sent one 
of his men to return the visit, accompanied by a negro who had come from 
Panama with Almagro. The Indians did not know whether to wonder most 
at the color of the white man or of the black man; but appeared to think, 
when they found that the dye of the African would not rub off, lot them try 
as they might, that he was rather the more wonderful of the two. Some swine 
and poultry had been sent by Pizarro as presents to the great man, since neither 
was to be found in the New World until brought hither by the Europeans; 
and the natives, when the cock crew, demanded to know what he was saying. 

The soldier brought back such wonderful stories of the temple which he 
had seen, blazing with gold and silver, that Pizarro dispatched a more trust- 
worthy messenger the next day, to see how much of this brilliant description 



riZARRO, THE DISCOVERER OF PERf. 385 

was true. The man chosen was the good cavalier Pedro de Candia, who had 
followed Ruiz across the line on the sand before any other ; and he was dressed 
in steel armor, with his sword by his side and his arquebus on his shoulder. 

Candia returned with a description even more glowing, which was accepted 
by Pizarro as the truth; although one historian of the time says that when 
they returned to Tumbez they found it a lie from beginning to end, except in 
regard to the temple; Candia having given a glowing account of a structure 
which he styled a convent, where the girls intended for the Inca's wives were 
kept. 

It was evident that they had reached the country which they sought, though 
as yet they had only arrived at the northern part. They accordingly left 
Tumbez, and followed the coast southward, till, passing the Punta de Aguja, 
they found their course alongshore tending toward the east. Everywhere 
they were received with the same kindness, and everywhere they heard the 
same accounts of a powerful monarch, whose palaces were fairly alight with 
the gleam of gold and silver. It is true that they sawbut little of these prec- 
ious metals, except in the- temples which they dared not violate; but the evi- 
dences of civilization were so many and so strong that they saw there must be 
some foundation for these reports. 

They had passed the point where the city of Truxillo now stands, when 
Pizarro's followers begged him to turn back. They had done enough, they 
said, to prove, not only the existence, but the actual situation of this great 
empire ; and their force was too small to attempt anything more. Recogniz- 
ing the justice of what they said, he consented to do so, and sailed to the 
northward. They stopped at Tumbez, where some of the Spaniards, at their 
own request, were put ashore; and a few of the Peruvians taken on board. 
By this means, Pizarro told himself, he would have Spaniards who were ac- 
quainted with the language and customs of the Peruvians, and Peruvians who 
were acquainted with the language and customs of the Spaniards. 

Confident that the measure of success which they had achieved was such as 
to interest the Governor, the leaders of the expedition applied to him for as- 
sistance in organizing another, of sufficient magnitude to undertake tlie con- 
quest of this country. He replied, coldly, that he had no desire to build up 
other states at the expense of his own ; nor would he be led to throw away 
more lives than had already been sacrificed by the cheap display of gold and 
silver toys and a few Indian sheep, as the llamas were called. 

Luque advised that they should apply directly to the Crown for assistance; 
and, after some discussion, Pizarro was authorized by his colleagues to go to 
Spain and lay the matter before the Emperor. To so low an ebb had their 
fortunes sunk, that they had some difficulty in fitting him out in proper style 
to go to court ; but finally, fifteen hundred ducats were raised, and in the spring 
of 1528, Pizarro sailed for Spain, taking with him some of the native Peruvi- 



386 



riZAHKO, TlIK DISCOVKKKK OK I'KRl 



aii.s, two or three llamas, variou.s pieces of cloth, and as many specimens of 
gold and silver articles, brought from Peru, as could easily l)e obtained; liie 
boot.v, of course, having l)een divided among tlie men engaged in the enter- 
prise. 




l'l/.Aicl:i> l.i.iii|;i. 1111. J-,.M|-l-.mil! *_'llAl;i,l-.M \. 

The Bachelor Knciso liappeued to be in Seville at the time of his landing; 
and as Pizarro had been in his debt since the days of the early colony at Da- 
rien, he at once procured the arrest of the adventurer, and had him thrown 
into prison. 

Fortunately for Pizarro, the fame of his achievements had reached Spain at 
least as .soon as he did; and the Emperor, liearing of his misfortunes, com- 



PIZAKKO, THE DISCOVKKKK OF PERU. 387 

nianded that he should be released at once, and allowed to proceed on his 
journey. When he arrived at Toledo, where the court then was, and was ad- 
mitted to the presence of Charles V., the Emperor listened with much inter- 
est; being even moved to tears by the story of his lonely stay, with a handful 
of followers, on the island of Gorgona; and commended Pizarro's affairs in 
the most favorable terms, to the consideration of the Council for the Indies. 

But Spanish otficials were slow-moving bodies, as many a gallant explorer, 
before and after the time of Pizarro, found; and the future Conqueror of 
Peru might have become heartsick with hope deferred, had it not been for a 
powerful friend. Cortes was then in Spain; and, after the Emperor had left 
for Italy, interested himself in expediting the affairs of Pizarro, who was dis- 
tantly related to him. The Queen, who had been named Regent during her 
husband's absence, accordingly executed the great " Capitulation " which de- 
tined the powers and privileges of Pizarro. 

In this instrument, Peru was called New Citstile; and Pizarro was given the 
right of discover}' and conquest in it for two hundred leagues south of San- 
tiago. The offices of Governor and Captain-General wei-e united in him with 
those of Adelantado and Alguacil Mayor, for life; and his services were to be 
rewarded by a salary equivalent, in values of the present day, to something 
like eight thousand dollars a year. Almagro was named commander of the 
fortress of Tumbez; and Luque was appointed Bishop of Tumbez and Protec- 
tor of the Indians of Peru. Ruiz was given the title of Grand Pilot of the 
Southern Ocean, and Candia was placed in command of the artillery ; the other 
eleven faithful followei-s of Pizarro were appointed to dignities in prospect, 
with the title and rank of hidalgoes and cavalleros in present. 

Pizarro was bound to raise within six months, from the date of the instru- 
ment, or by January 26, 1530, a well-equipped force of two hundred and tifty 
men ; and he was to be prepared to sail within six months from the time of his 
return to Panama. The Government furnished only a tritling assistance in 
the purchase of artillery and military stores. 

Among the followers whom he enlisted were his four brothers, Hernando, 
Gonzalo and Juan Pizarro, and a half-brother by his mother's side, Francisco 
Martin de Alcantara. But he did not have two hundred and fifty men enlis- 
ted by the time stipulated; he therefore sailed away in one vessel; and when 
the officers of the Crown came to inspect the armament previous to its de- 
parture, to see that the terms of the Capitulation were complied with, the 
number of men who they were told had sailed with Pizarro himself made up 
the required two hundred and fifty. They were easily deceived, perhaps, be- 
cause they were willing to be misled; and the other two vessels set sail for the 
New World. 

When Pizarro rejoined his associates, and told them what offices had been 
conferred upon each, they were not slow to express their discontent. He had 



388 IMZAKKO, TlIK DISCOVKRI-.U f)F TKRU. 

proinisod to consider Alm.ifiro's interests as well as his own; and Alniagro 
now objected because tlic -jreat offices were combined in one for I'izarro, 
while he, who should hiivo held an equal rank was given only the command 
of a single fortress. Pizarro urged that in other colonies there had been so 
much trouble between the civil ruler and the military authority, that the 
ministers of the Crown had not been willing, in this case, to invite such trou- 
ble in Peru, by giving the offices of Governor and Captain-General to differ- 
ent individuals. Whether Pizarro had indeed jiroved a traitor to his associate, 
and been the means of his having only a subordinate office, cannot now be 
told; he had certainly absorbed all of any consequence for himself, excepting 
that which was given to Luque; but a layman could not well be appointed a 
Bishop, which fact perhaps explains why Lucpie got this high office. 

A reconc'iliation, or what passed for one, was patched up between the two, 
and the preparations for transporting the cannon and stores across the 
isthmus were begun. By the time that they arrived at Panama, the required 
force of two hundred and fifty men had shrunk to one hundred and seventy. 
With this little force, with twenty-seven horses for his cavaliers, he embarked 
in three vessels, early in January, 1580, and sailed away from Panama on his 
third expedition to Peru. 

Almagro, as usual, remained behind to secure more recruits. It was the 
intention of Pizarro to steer straight for Tumbez; but contrary winds obliged 
him to come to anchor in the Bay of St. Matthew; where, after consulting 
with his officers, he resolved to disembark the greater part of his force and 
advance alongshore, while the vessels followed closely at a convenient dis- 
tance from the land. 

The first i)lace which they reached was the town of Coaquc, where, to use 
the words of one of the old chroniclers, who had taken \)nvt in the expedition, 
"we fell on them sword in hand; for, if we had advised the Indians of our 
approach, we should never have found there such store of gold and precious 
stones." 

This was the region in which emeralds were abundant; and Pizarro se- 
cured one of these stones as large as a pigeon's egg. He sent a considerable 
portion of the gold back to Panama, that the sight of so much treasure 
might allure recruits to his standard. But, as he advanced along the coast, 
his immediate force began to repine at the difficulties which beset them; the 
road was often but a sandy waste, an<l. men and horses, blinded by the sand, 
were scarcely able to keep their footing on the treacherous surface; besides 
this, the tropical sun poured down its' beams till they almost suffocated in 
their armor of burnished steel or their doulilets of thick quilted cotton. A 
dreadful disease broke out among them, which worked with such rapidity 
that sometimes those who lay down well at night were unable to lift their 
heads in the morning. 



I'IZARKO, THE IMSdOVEKKR OP PERU. 389 

Still they toiled on, through aland desei-ted by its inhabitants at their ap- 
proach; and at last their hearts were gladdened b}" the sight of another ves- 
sel. Certain high officers had been appointed by the Crown to attend the 
expedition; but Pizarro, when he sailed in such a hurry, left them behind. 
This vessel had them on l)oard, together with some needed supplies. 

Reinforced at Puerto Viejo by thirty men, Pizarro now advanced boldly 
toward Tumbcz, which he regarded as the outpost of the Peruvian empire. 
He did not proceed directly to the city itself, but established himself upon 
the island of Puna, in the mouth of the Guayaquil River. He was hospitably 
received, and his troops were provided with comfortable quarters; but he 
was warned by his Peruvian interpreters that the islanders meditated treach- 
ery against him. Satisfied of the existence of a conspiracy, he surrounded 
the place where the ringleaders were holding a meeting, and made prisoners 
of the suspected chieftains. These were abandoned to the people of Tum- 
bez, who had come in considerable numbers to visit him; and as there was a 
feud of long standing between the inhabitants of Puna and those of Tum- 
bez, although they were now nominally at peace, the triumphant party in- 
stantly massacred them before the eyes of the Spaniards. 

The people of Puna were aroused by this outrage; and at once attacked the 
camp of Pizarro. Although they far outnumbered the Spaniards, it was 
naked bodies opposed to cold steel and balls hissing hot from the muskets, 
and darts and arrows falling against steel-coats. They rushed madly at 
the authors of this massacre; but the Spaniards, well-disciplined, received 
them on their long pikes, or swept them down by volleys of nmsketry. Then 
the little body of cavalry charged into their midst, and drove them into the 
depths of the forests. St. Michael and his legions, said the devout Spaniards, 
fought out again, in the air high over their heads, but still in plain sight, that 
battle with Lucifer which was decided before the beginning of the world; 
and by this example encouraged the Christians who were contending with the 
followers of the devil. In coniniemoration of this event, the city of San Miguel 
was named by Pizarro for the Archangel. 

Three or four of the Spaniards fell in the fight, and many ' ,'ere wounded. 
In addition to this, Pizarro was kept in perpetual alarm bj the islanders, 
always ready to steal out of their fastnesses on the enemy's camp or on his 
straggling parties. 

But two vessels were soon descried off the island. They brought a rein- 
forcement of one hundred volunteers, under Hernando de Soto, whose name 
is so closely connected with the history of the great river of North America. 
Pizarro now felt strong enough to cross over to the continent and begin his 
career of discovery and conquest. He felt the better prepared for this, as 
he had recently learned that his enemies were divided by internal dissensions. 

Huayna Capac, Inca of Peru, had died some years previously, dividing his 



390 PIZARKO, THE DISCOVERER OK PERU. 

great empire between two of his sons. The Ineas of Peru were supposed to 
bo the Chiklren of the Sun, which luminary was worsliipped by the people 
as the chief god. In order to preserve the purity of blood, it was forbidden 
for any one who was not of this lineage on both sides to ascend the throne; 
so that it became a custom for the reigning Inca to choose, for liis lawful 
wife, his sister; and their son was hisfather's successor, no matter how many 
other sons of the sovereign might survive him. 

Hua3"na Capac had three sons of importance in Peruvian history, Iluuscar, 
Manco Capac, and Atahualpa. Iluascar was, in accordance with the princi- 
j)le just stated, the heir to the throne; Manco's mother was a cousin of his 
father's, and therefore of tiie Inca blood; but Atahualpa's mother had been 
a stranger by birth. It often happens, in such families, that the iieir-at-hiw 
is not the best beloved child; and it was so in this case-. 

Huayna Capac had conquered the neighboring kingdom of Quito; the ile- 
feated and dethroned monarch had died of grief; and the conqueror received 
liis beautiful daughter among his numerous wives. This was tiie mother of 
Atahualpa; and, when Iluayna Capac had felt his death drawing near, he re- 
solved that Atahualpa should rule the kingdom of Quito, while only the 
original dominion on the Incas was left to Huascar. 

For fis'e years the two young mouarehs ruled their respective realms in 
peace with each other; but difficulties then began which terminated, shortly 
before Pizarro reached Peru, in the defeat and capture of Huascar, and At- 
ahualpa's usurpation of the throne of the Incas. The tlifferent accounts 
vary greatly; but it is said that Atahualpa put to death a very great number 
of connections, because he feared their superior title to the crown; but I'cr- 
tainly he did not put to death his brother Huascar, who was the legitimate 
ruler, or ]\Ianco, who was the next in succession. 

This had taken place just a few months before Pizarro arrived in Peru, 
and the news of it afforded him great encouragement. Such encouragement 
was needed; for their first experience, when reaching the main land from 
Puna, was one of disaster and disappointment. Having ordered a few of his 
men to transport the military stores and the commander's baggage on some 
of the native rafts, while the greater part of the force was crossed in the 
ships, Pizarro learned that the men on board one raft, three or four in num- 
ber, had been captured by the natives, carried off to the woods, and there 
massacred. A considerable portion of the stores was rescued only by a de- 
termined sally of some horsemen, who saw the attack made on the raft 
where they were. 

This was surprising behavior on the part of the people of Tumbez, and 
Pizarro was still more surprised to find their town deserted and almost en- 
tirely demolished. The natives wevo followed to the woods, and the otHcer 
governing the city brought back. He assured them that the town had been 



PIZARRO, THK DISCOVERER OF PERU. 



391 



desti'05-ed by the wai's which they had waged with the people of Puna; and 
deplored the massacre of the three Spaniards as the act of some lawless pei'- 
sons, who had acted without his knowledge. As there was no way of proving 
that he was lying, and, as he promised obedience in his own name and that of 
his followers to the authority of the Spaniards, Pizarro took no further no- 
tice of his hostile reception; but questioned the chief regarding the Span- 
iards who had been left in the town. 




Pizarro and His Men in Peru. 

Others were questioned at the same time; and while each assigned a differ- 
ent cause for the death of the Spaniards, all united in testifying that they 
were dead. This unpleasant subject being disposed of, the Peruvians began 



392 PIZARRO, THE DISCOVERER OF PERU. 

to give a glowing description of the riches of the countrj- surrounding the 
capital. Perhai)s, knowing how large an army was maintained by their sov- 
ereign, and that the most of his men were veterans of many fights, they 
wished the Sj)aniartls to press forward to the gold which was, in this instance, 
hut the bait of a deadly trap. 

But Pizarro's followers did not believe half of what was told thcin; they 
had heard that the temple of Tumbez was covered with plates of gold and 
silver, and when they reached Tumbez the temple had been dismantled. Kor 
did they place any faith in a statement on a bit of paper which, Pizarro 
asserted, an Indian had given him, it having been delivered to the native by 
one of the white men mIio had been left in the country. This was the 
writing: — 

" Know, whoever you may be that may chance to set foot in this country, 
that it contains more gold and silver than there is iron in Biscay." 

Pizarro was quite capable, morally speaking, of forging such a relic; but 
he could not write, and ho was too acute to trust any one to do it for him; 
nevertheless, the paper only excited the ridicule of the soldiers, who, per- 
haps, overrated the scholarly attainments of their captain. 

Pizarro declared that it was the inaction of his troops which was leading to 
mutiny, as giving them time to recount their grievances to themselves and to 
each other. Ho accordingly determined upon action. Part of his company 
must be left at Tumbez, for they were in such bad health as not to be able 
to endure the hardships they might bo called upon to endure in journeying 
through the country; a detachment under Do Soto was sent to explore the 
skirts of the mountain-range, while he himself led the remainder of his force 
along the low country of the coast, reconnoitering the land before deciding 
upon his plan of operations. 

Maintaining a rigid discipline during the inarch, andsevcrely punishing any 
of his men who inflicted injuries upon the natives, he acquired a good name 
among the people of the country, who speedily forgot all the dreadful 
rumors that they had heard concerning him. Everywhere he was received 
hospitably; and the proclamation made wherever he went that he came in 
the name of the Holy Vicar of God and the sovereign of Spain, and required 
the obedience of the inhabitants as true children of the Church and vassals 
of the Emperor, was received without opposition by a peo])le who did not 
understand a word that was said; and the notary gravely recorded, as a well- 
attested fact, that these people had submitted to the Pope and the Emperor. 

Pizarro"s first care was to liiid a site for a settlement, which should be the 
base of future operations; and he decided upon a valley some thirty leagues 
south of Tumbez, where the city of San Miguel was founded. A church, a 
magazine for public stores, a hall of justice and a fortress were built, and a 
regular municipal government, patterned after that of Spanish cities, was 



PlZARliu, THE DISCOVERER OF PERU. 393 

organized. The surrounding g/ound was portioned out among the inhabit- 
ants, and to each a certain number of Indians was assigned, to assist him in 
tilling the soil; the Spaniards thus asserting, in the midst of the highly civ- 
ilized empire of the Incas, the same right to the services of the people which 
they had claimed among the naked savages of the West Indian Islands. 

Like Cortes, Pizarro persuaded his men to relinquish their share of the 
gold which had already been collected; not as a gift to the Crown, but as a 
loan to himself and his companions in the venture; and dispatched the ships 
back to Panama, sending the gold to pay off the ship-owners and those who 
had furnished stores. He remained at San Miguel for several weeks after 
sending the ships off, in hopes of receiving reinforcements; for, divided as 
the kingdom was against itself , he feared that his little force was too small to 
contend even with one-half of the armies of Peru. 

The whole force now amounted to something less than two hundred and 
fifty men. Leaving iifty at the settlement, Pizarro marched, Sept. 24, 1532, 
from the gates of San Miguel, boldly into the heart of the country where, 
he had been told, he would tind the camp of the Inca, with his thousands of 
victorious veterans. 

On the fifth day after leaving San Miguel, he halted his troops to give them 
a little rest and to review them more thoroughly. They numbered one hun- 
dred and seventy-seven men, of whom sixty-seven were cavalry, three arque- 
busiers, and not more than twenty crossbow-men. They were well-equipped, 
and most of them seemed to partake of his own resolute spirit; but there 
were afew of them who seemed to be discontented. He knew that a little leaven 
of mutiny or discontent can leaven the whole lump, and determined to put 
an end to this spirit at once. Calling them together, he briefly addressed 
them; it was a daring thing, to offer the choice that he gave them; for he 
could not tell how many of them might conceal the same spirit beneath an 
affectation of devotion to him. 

He told them that their affairs were in such a condition, that no man 
should think of going forward who had not his whole heart bound up in this 
expedition, or who had the least doubt of its success. If any one regret- 
ted having come, it was not too late to turn back ; San Miguel was poorly gar- 
risoned, and he would be glad to see it stronger. Those who chose to return 
would be placed on exactly the same footing as those who had been left there; 
while with those who chose to go forward with him, be they few or many, he 
would pui'sue the adventure to the end. Nine decided to return; the others, 
animated by a new enthusiasm and committed again to the schemes of their 
leader, since they had refused to go back when the opportunity was offered, 
resumed their march toward the camp of the Inca. 

Two days later, Pizarro judged it wise to send a reconnoitering party out 
under DeSoto. They were gone for eight days, and the commander had be- 



394 I'lZAKKO, TllK UISCOVIOKKK OK I'KIUI. 

gun to be very uneasy about them, when they returned, bringing with them 
an envoy from the Inca. This embassador, duly presenting a gift of consid- 
erable value, although far inferior to the magniticent offerings of Montezuma, 
])rought from Atahualpa a message of welcome, and an invitation for the 
strangers to visit him in his mountain camp ; for the forces of his brother had 
not been subdued so long that he was able to live at ease in his capital. 

Pizarro readily saw that this was but a device by which the Inca might in- 
form himself fully of the strength and purpose of the Spaniards; but gave no 
sign of his suspicions, and satisfied the curiosity of the envoy in regard to all 
the strange articles which the noble Peruvian now saw for the first time. On 
his departure, Pizarro presented him with a cap of crimson cloth, some glass 
ornaments, and similar trifles; bidding him tell his masterthatthe Spaniai'ds, 
the subjects of a great prince far away, having heard much of Atahualpa's 
victories, had come to pay their respects to him, and to offer their services 
against his enemies. 

The report which DeSotobroughtso fully confirmed all tliat they had heard 
or surmised concerning the power of the Inca, that they were held in check 
by their wary leader, who still had hopes of reinforcements. None came, 
however, and Ihey pushed forward to the foot of the Andes. 

Here two paths presented themselves. One was a broad and easy road which 
led to Cuzco; made smooth by all the engineering arts which were known to 
the Peruvians; the othcrwas atortuoussuccession of mountain-passes, where 
a handful of men might dispute the way at ahnost any point, though an army 
confronted them. Many were of the opinion that the army should abandon the 
route originally marked out, and go at oni'c to Cuzco; but Pizarro's purpose 
was not to bo easily shaken. He had acc-epted the Inca's invitation to visit 
him in his camp, and no weakness or cowardice on their part must bring upon 
them the contempt of the monarch. 

" Let every one of you," he cried, " take heart and go forward like a good 
soldier, nothing daunted by the smallness of your numbers. For in the great- 
est extremity God ever fights for his own; and doubt not that he will humble 
the pride of the heathen, and bring him to the knowledge of the true faith, 
the great end and object of the conquest." 

" Lead on I " they shouted, in answer to his appeal; " Lead on wherever 
you think best, and we will follow. We can do our duty in the cause of God 
and the King! " 

At dawn the next morning, Pizarro, with a body of sixty men, went for- 
ward to reconnoiter the ground. It proved even worse than he had thought; 
and in many places the mountain paths were so steep that his horsemen were 
obliged to dismount and lead their horses; while the precipices were so sheer 
that they might well have turned the strongest brain. 

As the Spaniards advanced into the heart of the country, they found a civ- 



PIZARRO, THE DISCOVERER OF PERU. 395 

ilization not inferior to that of Mexico; and the gigantic public works ap- 
peared wonderful even to the ignorant soldiers of fortune, who did not 
understand half the difScalties which had been overcome in their construct- 
ion. A great roadway had been constructed, of immense stones, twenty feet 
broad and from fifteen hundred to two thousand miles long; valleys had been 
filled with stone, streams had been bridged with plaited osiers, steps had been 
cut in precipices, and tunnels, leagues in length, cut through the living rock, 
that this road might be completed; and posts were established at the distance 
of about five miles apart, throughout its length, where runners were stationed. 
By such means, the Inca was enabled, when at Cuzco, to feast upon fresh fish 
that had been caught three hundred miles away; and his orders were trans- 
mitted with a rapidity which astonished the Spaniards. 

The buildings constructed by the Peruvians were not so imposing in their 
outward appearance as those of other countries; but the interiors were 
adorned with a vast treasure of silver, gold, and precious stones; while the 
beauty of the workmanship more than doubled the values of these ornaments. 
It is worthy of remark that the Peruvians had advanced farther in the art of 
fortification than the Europeans of that period; Pizarro was to find, when 
he reached Cuzco, a city walled, not with long stretches of ramparts, but with 
a regular and carefully planned arrangement of re-entering angles, such as 
are used in the construction of modern forts. 

Of the temples of Peru, space does not permit a full description. The 
most remarkable was that at the capital, where the refulgence of gold and 
jewels was such as to " make a sunshine in a shady place;" and where the 
eyes of even the avaricious Spaniards were dazzled with the richness of the 
ornamentation. 

Past mighty fortresses, constructed with a skill that rivalled that of the 
best engineers of the day, they toiled, their spirits rising when they found 
these strongholds untenanted; thus showing clearly that the Inca did not 
mean to dispute their advance. Long accustomed to the heat of the trop- 
ics, they suffered greatly with cold as they ascended the heights; and their 
spirits sank again as they saw no vegetation but the dried, yellow grass 
which, seen from below, has such a glowing golden color, and no sign of ani- 
mal life but the condor which seemed waiting to feast on their bodies. 

The rear had been summoned to follow, and the force was reunited when 
they reached the summit. Here Pizarro received another embassy from the 
Inca, with friendly messages. But the descent was almost as difficult as the 
iisccnt; and it was with great satisfaction that they at last saw just before 
them the little city of Caxamalca, with the white tents of the Inca's army ly- 
ing " thick as snowflakes," as one of the old chroniclers says, along the slope 
of the hills, for the distance of several miles. 

The Inca's envoy had explained that the city had been abandoned by its 



.196 riZARRO, TnF, niSCOVERER OF PF.RL". 

iiili!il)it:ints to iii:ike room for the white men; and Pizarro, as he formed his 
liltle army into tiireo orderly divisions and marched into it, found not a liv- 
injjc thinji within its walls. 

Pizarro determined to send an embassy at once to the Inea ; and assigned 
He Soto, with fifteen horsemen, to that duty; hut aftei-ward, considering this 
too .small a number, sent his brother Hernando after the first party with 
1 wenty cavaliers. Dashing along the wide causeway which, stretching across 
.he meadows, connected the camp and tiic town, they distrusted the strength 
of a wooden bridge which was thrown across a stream surrounding the Inea's 
position ; and, plunging into the broad but shallow waters, reached the oj)- 
posite side in safety; unmolested by the battalion of Indian warriors drawn 
up in lino, under arms, at the end of the bridge. 

Conducted into the i)rescncc of Atahualpa, De Soto and Hernando Pizarro 
stated their errand; tliey had come to acquaint him with the arrival of their 
commander and his force in the city of ('axamalc-a; they were the subject.s of 
a mighty prince far away, they said, and repeated Pizarro's fairy stoi-y about 
helping him against his enemies; finally, they brought an invitation for Ata- 
liualpa to visit the general the next morning. 

The Inca might have been a marble .statue for all the sign that he gave of 
understanding one word of the interpreter's version of this; and one of his 
highest nobles answered for hi|n : — 

" It is well."' 

The Sj)aniards, however, insisted upon having an answer from hi.s own 
lips; and he then told them that he was keeping a fast, but that it would end 
the next morning, when he would visit the stranger with his chieftains. 

De Soto had noticed that Atahualpa seemed to be more interested in the 
fiery horse which the gallant cavalier bestrode than in anything else about 
the part; and, making free use of his spurs, he gave the champing war-horse 
the rein, and displayed all the beautiful mov(!ments of the animal as well as 
his own i)erfect horsemanship. Suddenly checking him .so near the point of 
startingthat some of the foam from the horse's .sides was thrown on Ata- 
liualpa's garments, the astonished Si)auiard remarked that not even this dis- 
turbed the composure of the monarch. Some of his subjects, however, drew 
back as the strange animal passed close to them in his mad course; and the 
angry Inca, who had noted this even though he seemed marble, caused them 
to be put to death that very evening for showing such weakness before the 
strangers. 

The embassy brought l)ack such news of the strength and equipment of the 
Inea's forces, that their companions lost heart. Pizarro, seeing how they 
felt, went around among them; and telling each of the faint-hearted that it 
mattered not what power was on the side of the enemy, the arm of Heaven 
was on theirs. By thus insisting upon the religious nature of the enterprise, 



PIZAKRO, THE DISCOVERKR OF PERU. 3U7 

he rekindled their enthusiasm, and they were once more ready to follow him 
to the death. 

When this had been accomplished, ho called together his otBcers in coun- 
cil ; not, it seems, to ask their advice, but to acquaint them with the plan 
which he had already formed. This was nothing less than the seizure of At- 
ahualpa, when he came to visit their camp the next morning. The Spaniards 
licing fully prepared, and acting in concert, he argued, would be able to ac- 
complish this, even though the Inca should bring a much larger force with 
him than Pizarro commanded. 

Nov. 16, 1532, dawned; and Pizarro, having informed his men of what was 
contemplated, made the necessary dispositions of his troops. All arrange- 
ments having been completed, and every man being fully instructed as to his 
duty, mass was performed with great solemnity, and in all earnestness the 
Spaniards invoked the aid of the God of battles in their act of perfidy. 

A messenger from the Inca informed Pizarro that the monarch would 
come with his warriors fully armed, as the Spaniards had come to visit him, 
and, although the adventurous Castilian might have preferred that he should 
come unprepared for fighting, he dared not object. It was noon before the 
Indians were on the way; and when they arrived within half a mile of the 
city, they coolly jjitched their tents, and Pizarro received word that they 
would remain where they were for the night, and enter the city the next 
morning. 

The Spanish leader, knowing well how hard it would be to maintain his 
men in the same readiness in which they had held themselves since dawn, 
in-otested against this change of purpose; sending the Inca word that everj'- 
thing had been prepared for his entertainment. Atahualpa at once declared 
that he would come at once, but attended only by a few of his people, and 
without arms. Against this change of purpose, it may be supposed, Pizarro 
did not protest. 

Preceded by some hundreds of servants sent to clear the way, and attend- 
ed by soldiers robed in scarlet, white, or azure, on a throne of massive gold 
which was born on a litter lined with the plumes of tropical birds and stud- 
ded with plates of gold and silver, Atahualpa entered the city a little before 
sunset. The procession entered the great square; and the well-drilled sol- 
diers formed in lines to the right and the left, to allow the palanquin, with 
its immediate attendants, to be borne forwai'd. Not a Spaniard was to be 
seen, as, in the midst of profound silence, the monarch traversed the square. 

" Where are the strangers?" he asked, in natural surprise. 

In answer to the query, Pizarro's chaplain, a Dominican named Fray Vi- 
cente de Valverde, stopped forward with his breviary — or a Bible, according 
to another account — in one hand and a crucifix in the other ; and proceeded to 
expound to the great Peruvian sovereign the whole Christian doctrine, show- 



3!I8 PIZARRO, THE DISCOVERER OF PERU. 

ing: most clearly, as ho thought, how Pizarro derived his authority to con- 
t|uer and convert the people of this country from St. Peter himself. His 
teachinjis were interpreted by one of the Indians who had been taken prison- 
er by the Spaniards, whom they had named Fclipillo; and he gravely ex- 
))lained to the Inca, when the great doctrine of the Trinity was touched up- 
on, that the Chiistians had three Gods and one God, which made four. 

However inaccurate the interpreter's version may have been, the priest's 
call to the Peruvian monarch to acknowledge himself the vassal of Charles 
V. and abjure his heathen gods for the Christian faith could not be misun- 
derstood. 

" I will be no jnan's tributary," rejoined the indignant and insulted Inca; 
"I am greater than any prince on earth. Your Emperor nuiy be a great 
prince; I do notdoubt it when I see that he has sent his people so far across 
the waters; and I am willing to hold him as a brother. As for the Pope of 
whom you speak, he must be crazy to talk of giving away countries which do 
not belong to him. For my faith, I will not change it. Your own God, as 
you say, was put to death by the very men whom he created. But mine still 
lives in the heavens, and looks down on his children." 

Atahualpa demanded the priest's authority for saying these things, and was 
shown the book which he held. The Inca took the volume, turned over its 
pages hastily, then threw it down and exilainied: — 

" Tell your comrades that thej' shall give me an account of their doings in 
my land. I will not go from here, till they have given me full satisfaction f(ir 
all the wrongs they have conmiitted." 

The priest hardly stayed to hear the interpretation of this speech; but, 
picking up the sacred volume which had been so insulted by the sun-wor- 
shiper, sought out Pizarro. 

"Do you not see," he said to the leader, " that while we stand here wast- 
ing our breath in talking with this dog, full of pride as he is, the tields are 
tilling with Indians? Set on at once; I absolve .vou." 

Thus urged to action l)y the representative of the Church, Pizarro gave the 
signal to the gunner; the piece was tired, and instantly, from every quarter, 
the Spaniards, uttering their war-cry of "Santiago and at them!" rushed 
into the square. The Indians, taken wholly by surprise, deafened by the dis- 
charge of the cannon and nmskcts, and blinded by the sulphurous smoke 
that rolled along the square, were panic-stricken. They had no arms with 
whii-h to resist the assault of these dread riders with their gleaming swords, 
even had they been less surprised by the suddeimess of the attack. They 
choked every avenue of escape; and when these were barred by the bodies 
of dead men and the living wretches who vainly endeavored to force their 
way, others, jjrcssed back against the wall of the plaza, actually burst through 
that structure of stone and di'ied clay, and made an opening more than a 



PIZARKO, THE DISCOVERER OF PERU. 39il 

hundred paces wide, through which the wretched natives pressed, only to be 
followed and cut down by the cavalry. 

Throned on his gorgeous litter, Atahualpa beheld the slaughter of his sub- 
jects. Some of the Spaniards, afraid that he might, after all, escape them, 
assaulted the sovereign. 




Atahualpa Taken Prisoner by Pizarro. 

{From an Old Engraving.) 

" Let no one who values his life strike at the Inca!" thundered Pizarro; 
and stretched out his own arm to avert a blow which would have proved 
fatal. It was too late for the soldier who aimed it to stay his hand; and the 
stroke fell, although with less force than hadPizarro not spoken. It inflicted 
on the hand of the leader the only wound received by a Spaniard during the 
action. 



400 riZAKKt), TllK DISCOVKKKIt OF I'KIU'. 

Still the nobles who Hiinouiuled the litter as a guard made some effort to 
defend their master; but one by one they fell before the swords and muskets 
of the strangers, and Atahualpa was a prisoner. The massacre — for it could 
not be called a battle — iiad lasted barely half an hour; yet the slaughter is 
estimated, by contenii)orary historians, at <^roni two thousaTid to ten thousand 
Peruvians. 

A bancjuet was served in the great square that night, before all the Itodies 
of the slain had been removed; and Atahualpa was seated besi<le his captor. 
If we may believe the Spanish historians, he expressed his admiration of 
their adroitness in entrai)ping him in the midst of his army. He told them 
that their progress had been constantly reported to him ; l)ut that he had not 
opposed it, for he had intended to select such of them as he chose for his own 
service, secure the wonderful arms and horses, and put the men whom he did 
not choose to death. Su('h, at least, was the account of his motives with 
which they were furnished by their interpreter. 

The great army of the Inca melted like snow before the sun; his soldiers 
seemed to have lost all heart when they heard of his capture; and they 
looked with superstitious awe upon the men who could so audaciously seize 
the Child of the Sun in the very midst of his dominions. 

So great was the number of prisoners, that the question of disposing of 
them became a serious one. Some of Pizarro's followers considered that the 
safest plan would be to put them to death; others thought it would be 
enough to cut off the right hand of each, that thej* might be disabled from 
using arms; but Pizarro himself decided upon a more humane course; and, 
retaining a considerable number of them to wait on liim and his followers, 
dismissed the others to their homes, with the assurance that they should not 
be harmed if they offered no resistance to the white men. 

Pizarro dispatched a messenger to San Miguel with the news of what had 
been achieved; and set to work, since he did not wish to advance u[)on the 
capital until he had received some reinforcements, to provide his soldiers 
with a place of worship. Whether they actually built a church or only 
adapted some existing building in Caxamalca to this i)urpose, mass was regu- 
larly performed by the Dominican fathers, though we have no evidence that 
the soldiers became any more humane as the result of this ri'gularity. 

Atahualpa was doubly anxious to regain his freedom; for he could not tell 
when his brother Huascar would bribe his guards and assume the title of 
Inca, which Atahualpa had usurped. 

" If you will set me free," he sai<l to Pizarro one day, " I will give you as 
much gold as will cover the floor of this room." 

For he had learned that the Spaniards valued gold above everything else. 
He received no answer but a smile, which seemed to scoff at his promise as 
being impossil)le of fulfillment; and he said with more emphasis: — 



PIZARRO, TIIK D1S(()\EREK OF PERU. 401 

" I will not only cover the floor, hut will fill tlie room with gold this high ;"" 
and, as he spoke, he extended his arm high above his head, standing on tip- 
toe to reach the highest point possible. Still they regarded it as an empty 
boast, though they had heard, from Atahualpa and others, such glowing de- 
scrii^tions of the richness of the country. However, it was safe to accept the 
offer; retaining the Inca a prisoner, of course, until the pi'ecious metal 
should be brought. Drawing a red line along the wall at the height indicated, 
Pizarro caused the terms of the proposal to be recorded by the notary. In 
two months' time it was to be accomplished; the articles to retain their 
original form, and the Inca to have the benefit of the intervening spaces; 
and he further agreed to fill a certain smaller room twice with silver. 

It is only by reducing this proposal to figures that we can comprehend fully 
the vastness of the treasure which Atahualpa proposed to pay for his free- 
dom. The size of the room is variously given; but the smallest dimensions 
stated by any authority are seventeen by twenty-two feet, while they agree 
that the red line was nine feet from the floor. The total cubic contents of 
such an apartment would be more than three thousand cubic feet; but from 
a single cubic foot of gold, more than three hundred thousand standard 
United States dollars could be'coined. If we accept the smallest estimate, 
and allow more than three-fourths of the space for interstices, the treasure 
would still be more than all the wealth of the Vanderbilts and the Astors. 

But as soon as Huascar heard what a ransom had been offered by his 
brother, he sent word to Pizarro that he would pay even more for his own 
liberty. The Spanish leader announced his intention of sitting in judgment 
between the two brothers; Atahualpa, alarmed by this, and fearing that the 
Spaniard would reinstate Huascar, as a more pliant tool in their hands, at 
once dispatched his orders to his adherents who Lad Huascar in charge; for 
he was permitted to communicate freely with his subjects. In obedience to 
this mandate, Huascar was drowned in the Andamarca River, declaring, as 
his guards were about to complete their assigned duty, that the white men 
would avenge him, and that Atahualpa would not long survive him. 

Atahualpa pretended the greatest surprise and indignation when he heard 
that his brother had met with a violent death ; but although this did not de- 
ceive Pizarro, he had no means of proving the Inca's guilt, and could not 
punish him without forfeiting all hope of the promised treasure. The re- 
turns came in slowly, for distances were considerable and roads often difficult; 
and Atahualpa, as anxious as Pizarro to hasten matters, urged that a party of 
Spaniards be sent to secure the gold in the great temple of Pachacamac. Her- 
nando Pizarro and twenty horsemen undertook the errand ; they failed to 
secure an amount which corresponded with their ideas of the expectations 
of the Inca; for the priests, receiving warning of their coming, had made off 
with most of the treasure. 
26 



402 I'lZARRO, THE DISCOVERER OF PERIT. 

But lu'suing tli;it thefircatgonenil of the Inca,Challcucliiiiia, was not far off, 
Pizano doU'rniinod to capture him ; and niarchcd upon his cainj). On the 
way, tho horses experienced great difficulty on the roujih and stonj' ground; 
for tlu'ir shoes were quite worn out. Iron was not obtainable; but there was 
plenty of silver; and with silver the horses were accordingly shod. The mis- 
sion was completely successful ; as the wily Spaniards persuaded the general to 
accompany him on a visit to the Inca. 

The great temple at Cuzco afforded an immense amount of treasure, al- 
though the Spaniards, at the rcfjuest of the Inca, spared the gold-embossed 
chairs in which the royal mummies were seated; and the great golden cornice 
was too firmly imbedded in the walls to be removed. Seven hundred plates 
of gold were torn from this temple; besides a vast cjuantityfrom other build- 
ings. The natives eagerly despoiled the city, in order to be rid the sooner of 
the messengers, who behaved with the most disgusting rapacity and wanton 
insolence. 

While the ransom of Atahualpa was being collected, Almagro had arrived 
with about two hundred men, of whom fifty were mounted. He reached 
Caxamaica about the middle of February, 1533; and, in spite of many efforts 
which had been made to sow discord between him and Pizarro, they seemed 
resolved to bury all past differences. 

Atahualpa alone saw in this reinforcement a new swarm of enemies; and, 
looking up to the sky, where a comet had recently made its appearance, ex- 
claimed that such a sign had been seen shortly before the death of his father; 
and, from that day, became possessed of a brooding sadness. 

The rich spoil of the ransom was divided among the soldiers; Almagro's 
followers receiving a small share of it, which still amounted to a considerable 
sum, so great was the total. But Atahualpa was not released. Pizarro had 
caused the notary to record the terms of the offer, but had evaded giving any 
promise on his own part. Of course, in allowing Atahualpa to proceed, and 
in insisting upon the fulfillment of his part of the agreement, the Spaniard 
had virtually agreed to release the monarch when the ransom should have 
been paid ; but he still retained the captive, and added insult to injury by ac- 
cusing him of instigating a rising of his people against the Spaniards. 

"Am I not a poor captive in your hands? " he said to his accuser. " IIow 
could I harbor the designs of which you suspect me, when I should be the first 
victim of the outbreak? And you little know my people, if you think that 
such a movement would be uuide without my orders, when the very birds in 
my dominionswould scarcely venture to fly contrary to my will." 

But tho Spaniards, particularly the recent recruits, clamored for his death. 
There were some who opposed any such measure, and Pizarro seemed to be 
one of them; the chief opponent of any such violence was De Soto; and it 
shows the insincerity of Pizarro, who pretended to resist the importunity of 



nZARRO, THE DISCOVERER OF PERU. 403 

his bloody-minded followers, that he sent De Soto on a reconnoitering expe- 
dition at this time. 

During his absence, Atahualpa was brought to trial. He was charged with 
having caused his brother Huascar to be murdered ; with having squandered 
the public revenues since the Spaniards had entered the country; with idol- 
atry, and with ha,ving indulged in a plurality of wives; and finally, in having 
attempted to excite an insurrection against the Spaniards. 

It matters not what the charge may be, when the judges have determined 
beforehand on the verdict and the sentence. Atahualpa was found guilty, 
and condemned to be burned alive in the center of the plaza of Caxamalca, 
that very night. 

" What have I done, or my children, that I should meet such a fate? " 
asked the Inca, when the sentence was communicated to him; "and from 
your hands, too, you, who have met with friendship and kindness from my 
people, with whom I have shared my treasures, who have received nothing 
but benefits from my hands!" 

Pizarro, visibly affected, turned away from the Inca; for, against the voice 
of the army, he had no power. Atahualpa, finding his entreaties vain, offered 
double the ransom which he had already paid; but the Spaniards were deaf 
even to the offer of gold; and, recovering his composure, he submitted to his 
fate. 

Two hours after sunset on the 29th of August, 1533, the Inca was led out 
to the square, chained hand and foot; Father Valverde at his side, making a 
last effort to convert him to the religion of his conquerors. The victim was 
bound to the stake; and the priest, not ceasing his ministrations even then, 
besought him to embrace the cross and be baptized; promising him, not life, 
])ut a milder form of death if he would consent. Atahualpa inquired if this 
were true; and Pizari'O confirmed the words of his chaplain. Then, in order 
that he might be garroted instead of burned, the prisoner consented to adopt 
the faith of the stranger; and Valverde baptized him by the name of Juan de 
Atahualpa. Immediately afterward, he was executed; meeting his; death 
with a calm dignity which the Spaniards, remembering his terror of the stake, 
had hardly expected. 

Many of the followers of Atahualpa, especially his wives and sisters, rushed 
into the church where his funeral services were being held, and declared their 
intention to sacrifice themselves on his tomb that they might bear him com- 
pany to the land of spirits. The Spaniards, horrified at this expression regard- 
ing a man who had died a Catholic, caused the women to be excluded. Several 
of them, however, carried out their intention, and actually killed themselves. 

De Soto heard with astonishment and indignation, on his i-eturn, that the 
Inca had been executed; for he had been sent to ascertain what truth there 
was in the rumor of a conspiracy against the Spaniards. 



PIZARRO, THE DISCOVERER OF PERU. 405 

"You have acted rashlj/' he said, bluutly, to Pizarro; " Atahualpa has 
been basely shmdered ; there is no rising of the natives. I have met with 
nothing on the road but demonstrations of good will, and all is quiet. If it 
was necessary to bring the Inca to trial, he should have been taken to Castile, 
and judged by the Emperor." 

Pizarro tried to excuse himself by saying that this a/:;tion had been forced 
upon him by some of his associates; these associates in turn denied the ac- 
cusation ; and the dispute ran so high that they actually gave each other the 
lie. 

There is a story which is told of Pizarro which explains his conduct toward 
the Inca by personal resentment. The Inca had asked a soldier to write the 
name of God on his finger-nail; the request was complied with; and the mon- 
arch, showing it to several persons in succession, thought it but little short 
of a miracle that all should read it alike. Pleased as a child with a new toy, 
he displayed the writing to Pizarro; the Spanish general remained silent when 
asked to read it, and never forgave the exposure of his ignorance. 

It is probable, however, that the guilt was divided among a great number, 
and that Almagro's followers had no small share of it. Their consciences, 
however, were not troubled ; but they marched as gaily toward Cuzco as if 
they had never broken the moral law. 

Crossing the Abaucay, and nearing the sierra of Vilcaconga, he learned that 
a considerable body of Indians lay in wait for him among the mountain passes ; 
and, while the Spaniards wei-e trying to get across the sierra before nightfall, 
these enemies fell upon them in a furious assault. Their attack was not up- 
on the main body, but upon a party of sixty horse, commanded by De Soto ; 
and this strong body of cavalry was nearly defeated by the Indians. Night 
came on, however; and De Soto sent a messenger to Pizarro to ask for help. 
The general dispatched Almagro with a reinforcement and the increased force 
routed the Peruvians the next morning. 

This attack was charged to a conspiracy in which Challcuchima was a prin- 
cipal; and that captive chieftain was, like his master, brought to trial, sen- 
tenced to death, and executed. In his case, however, there was no commuta- 
tion of the sentence; it was death by tire, with all its horrors. 

As they neai'ed Cuzco, a Peruvian noble came in state to visit Pizarro. It 
was young Manco, the claimant to the throne of the Incas, since the death of 
his two elder brothers. He announced his pretensions to .the throne, and 
claimed the protection of the strangers. The Spanish chieftain, seeing in this 
the submission which he had desired, received him with great cordiality, and 
promised him the protection which he requested. 

Late in the afternoon of Nov. 14, 1.533, they came in sight of Cuzco; and 
the next morning the Spaniards entered the Peruvian capital. On entering, 
Pizarro issued an order, forbidding the soldiers to offer violence to the dwell- 



406 I'IZARRO, THE DISCOVERER OF PERI'. 

ings of tho inhabitants; but tlio spoil was too tempting for a Spaniard to re- 
sist phuuleriiig tcmpies and palaces. Even the sei)ukiiers were invaded and 
robbed of the ornaments which had been placed upon and around the dead. 

"What was the value of the treasure hero obtained, is a matter which is dif- 
ferently stated by different historians; but the adventurers accounted to the 
Crown for a sum equivalent to nearly seven millions of dollars of United 
States money; as the spoil of the public buildings of this single city. Only 
the gold is reckoned in this sum; one i)art of tho silver which thc-y secured 
consisted of ten great solid bars, twenty feet long, one foot wide, and two oi 
three inches thick. These alone, which were intended to be used on the resi- 
dence of a Peruvian noble, wc^ro worth about a half million of dollars; and 
money then would purchase about three times what the same amoiuit would 
secure now. 

The booty being divided, Manco was placed upon the throne with all the 
ceremonies usually observed by a Christian prince on theeve of hiscoronation. 
The supremacy of the Castilian Crown over Peru was asserted and acknowl- 
edged; and Pizarro's next duty was the formation of a municipal government 
for Cuzco. He now assumed, for the first time, the title of Governor. 

There was some difficulty with tho natives, who made tiieir last stand un- 
der a chief whom his own soldiers, worn out by the hardships of the campaign 
against the Spaniards, finally murdered. Pizarro's next danger was from 
that Alvarado who had been one of the followers of Cortes, and who had con- 
ceived the idea of exploring and subduing the territor3' to the north of Peru. 
This danger, however, passed away, for Alvarado endured such hardships on 
his march across the mountains that when he was confronted with the hardy 
veterans of Pizarro he was glad to acknowledge the claims of the Governor of 
Peru, and return to his own territory of Guatemala. 

Pizarro's next care was to decide upon the site for a capital; for Cuzco 
was situated too far inland, and was too difficult of access. He selected a 
site in the valley of Rinuic, where he began, January 6, l.i35, the Ciudad de 
los Reyes, or City of the Kings, as he called it from the fact that it was begun 
on the festival of Epiphany, when the visit of the Three Kings to the infant 
Saviour is commemorated. The sounding Spanish name has long since been 
discarded for a corruption of the native name for the valley; for Lima is the 
capital which Pizarro founded. 

Hernando Pizarro was now sent to Spain, to bear the royal fifth of the 
treasure that had been collected, and to rei)ort what had been done. He 
was received as graciously as the golden success of the expedition warranted; 
and the former grants were fully confirmed. In addition to the honors which 
had been conferred upon Almagro, that cavalier was authorized to take pos- 
session of a tract two hundred leagues in extent, south of t lie territory occu- 
pied by Pizarro, whose limits were extended seventy leagues southward. 



PIZARRO, THK DISCOVERER OF PERU. 



407 



A fleet, greater and better appoiuted, probably, than any since the time of 
Ovando, sailed for the New World, to bear those who had newly enlisted un- 
der the banner of Pizarro ; but the vessels were scattered by the winds ; and 
when they arrived off the coast of the Isthmus, being detained there for sev- 
eral months before they could cross the mountains, they suffered from fam- 
ine and disease. 




iKO SwEAHiNi; Peack. 



The news of the grant to Almagro reached Peru before the document was 
actually transmitted there; and Pizarro was at once filled with anxiety lest 
Cuzco should be within the limits of his rival's jurisdiction. He removed 
Almagro from the government of the city, and placed his brothers in charge; 



4U8 I'l/.AIiliO, rilK UlSCOVKKKK OK I'KIU . 

a ineasuro w liitli was the cause of a bitter quarrel between tlie two. But tliis 
was liually patched up, the reconciled contestants solemnly swearing on the 
sacrament that neither would malign the other to the Emperor, or attempt 
to hold communication with the Government of Spain without the knowl- 
edge of the other. 

The extension of his own territory w-as not known to Pizarro when he 
feared that the capital would fall into the hantlsof his rival; and that knowl- 
edge set liis mind at ease. Almagro, levying such recruits as were willing to 
desert the proved riches of Peru for possible greater treasure to be found in 
the South, departed for his dominions; and Pizarro turned to the new diffi- 
culties which beset him. 

The Peruvians, seeing the dissensions of the Spaniards and the weakening 
of their force by the departure of Almagro, formed a plan for a general I'is- 
ing. The Inca Manco left the city by stealth to put himself at the head of 
the movement; but unfortunately there was a body of Northern Indians, the 
subjects of the Incas, but too recently conquered to be attached to them, in 
Cuzco; and they noted and betrayed the absence of the monarch to Juan Pi- 
zarro. He was pursued and discovered in a thicket of reeds, anested, and 
l)rought back a prisoner to Cuzco, where he was placed under a strong guard. 

But ]\Ianco had made friends with Hernando Pizarro, who caused him to 
be given a greater degree of liberty; and even, when Manco told him of a 
statue of pure gold and life-size which had been erected to his father, 
Huayma Capac, permitted him to go, with two Spanish soldiers as a guard, 
to the secret fastnesses of the mountains where it was hidden, to bring it 
back as a gift to the Si)aniard. 

After a week had gone by. and Manco had not returned, a force of sixty 
soldiers was sent to search for him. They met the two soldiers who had been 
his guard, who informed them that the country was in arms and that Manco 
was at the head of his army. 

Juan Pizarro, the leader of this detachment, met the Peruvians in battle 
shortly afterward; but the first day's light was not decisive; the Indians 
drawing off at night into their fastnesses. The Spaniards reckoned it a vic- 
tory, but it had cost themdear; and the next morning showed them that their 
enemies were as resolute as ever. 

Another day M'as spent in similar unprofitable hostilities, when a hasty 
summons came, bidding him return at once to Cuzco, which was now besieged 
by the enemy. He obeyed, to find that city surrounded by a countless hordeof 
the natives; who, not content with desperate assaults, shot fierj' arrows and 
threw stones wrapped in cotton which had been soaked in some bituminous 
product and set on fire, into the city, and thus kindled a conflagration which 
the Spaniards were powerless to extinguish. 

But although the whole force of the besieged did not number more than 



PIZAKKO, THE DISCOVERER OF PERU. 



4 Oil 



two bundred white men, they resolved not to abandon the city; it would, 
indeed, have been as dangerous to attempt to fight their way to the coast as 
to remain in their present quarters. 




Battle with thic Pi;ri\taxs. 

Juan Pizarro was killed at the head of his men, and many other brave 
Spaniards bit the dust; their loss but imperfectly balanced by the death of 
ten natives for each white man that fell. Weeks passed away, and famine 
added its horrors to the siege; while the fact that the Governor did not come 
to their rescue led them to believe that he had perished, and they were left> 
alone in the midst of these hordes of barbarian enemies. 

Pizarro the Governor had indeed been threatened by the insurgents, but 
had repulsed them from the valley of liimac. He made several efforts to re- 
lieve the garrison of Cuzco, sending four different detachments, numbering 
more than four hundred men in all, to its assistance. In two cases, not a 
man returned to tell the story; in two others, a few stragglers made their way 
back to Lima to tell of their surprise and defeat by vast numbers of natives. 



410 riZARUO, TIIK DISCOVERKR OK I'KRII. 

Pizarro's immediate followers he>^an to talk of the wisdom of returning to 
Panama; but he cut short all that kind of talk by sending every vessel under 
his command to the Governors of various provinces, describing his condition 
and asking aid. 

Five months passed away; and the besiegers as well as the besieged were 
in danger of famine. The Inca therefore sent the greater portion of his 
forces back to their homes, to till the fields, that a supply of food might be 
secured. The Spaniards took advantage of this lessening of the blockading 
force to make desperate sallies in search of food; and secured a sufficient 
number of Peruvian sheep to place them above all danger of want for some 
time to come. Yet these sallies were not made without danger, but constant 
skirmishes took place. 

While these disasters were befalling the Spanish arms in Peru, Almagro 
was not more fortunate; but having reached a point some thirty degrees 
south of the equator, and finding nothing but hardship, his men insisted on 
returning. Nor was he averse to making claim once more to the rich city of 
Cuzco, which is not more than a league from the boundary line between the 
territory assigned to him and that assigned to Pizarro. He marched north- 
ward, and arriving before Cuzco while it was beleaguered l)y the Indians, en- 
tered into negotiations with Manco. At the same time, he summoned the 
commander of Cuzco to yield possession of the city to him, the rightful 
Governor of this province. The authorities of Cuzco answered that they 
must consult certain learned pilots about the position of the Santiago Kivcr. 
from which the distances were measured; and employed the time thus gained 
in strengthening their position. 

Almagro, hearing what they were doing, and also that, in consequence of 
Pizarro's appeal, Alvarado was sending a force to relieve Cuzco, took advan- 
tage of a stormy night to enter the city, in violation of the treaty, and make 
himself master of it. This was accomplished April 8, l.')37. 

But Pizarro's appeal for aid had been answered by others as well. Espi- 
nosa had sailed from Panama with a corps of two hundred and fifty men, and 
Cortes had sent i)rovisions, military stores and other necessary supi)lies from 
Mexico. AVith a force of four hundred and fifty men, half of whom were 
cavalry, the Governor marched from Lima toward Cuzco. Scarcely had h<' 
set out before he learned that Almagro had taken Cuzco and thrown his 
brothers into prison; and that Alvarado's force had been disastrouslj- de- 
feated by the captor of the city. 

Ho returned to Lima and there prepared to defend himself. At the same 
time, negotiations were begun by him, which terminated in an interview be- 
tween the two commanders at Mala, November 13, 1537. At this confer- 
ence it was settled, after much warm discussion which more than once came 
near merging into blows, that the captive Pizarros should be released, and 



PIZARRO, THE DISCOVERER OF PERL'. 411 

that .Vlmagro should retain possession of Cuzco until the arrival of detinite 
instructions from Castile. 

Almagro had scarcely left when Pizarro called his officers together and re- 
counted all that he had suffered at the hands of his rival — the capture of 
Cuzco, the imprisonment of his brothers, the defeat of his troops — and de- 
clared that the time had come for revenge. He deputed the command to his 
brothers, saying that he was now too old to take charge of the campaign ; 
and, after urging that he had entered into certain agreements with Almagro 
t)efore his release, Hernando Pizarro accepted the duty laid upon him by his 
brother. 

Almagro was notified that the treaty was at an end ; and the army of Pizarro 
followed his own toward Cuzco. He reached the city about the middle of 
April, 1538; the Pizarros and their forces about ten days later; and, on the 
i'()th, there was a bloody struggle which ended in the defeat of Almagro's 
forces, and the capture of that leader himself, prostrated by illness. 

He was treated with every attention by Hernando Pizarro, who assured him 
that he only waited to obtain formal permission from his brother to release 
him. But while the captive was thus consoled by kind treatment, the captor 
was securing accusations against him from all sides. The process was com- 
pleted July 8, 1538, and Almagro was pronounced guilty of levying war 
against the Crown, of entering into conspiracy with the Inca, and of dispos- 
sessing the royal Governor of the city of Cuzco; and condemned to death. 
Then, and not until then, did he receive intelligence of the trial which had 
been conducted. 

By the terms of the royal grant, Almagro was empowered to name his suc- 
cessor in the government of his province. He bequeathed these rights to his 
son, naming Diego de Alvarado administrator during his minority; and all 
the property that he had accumulated, in Peru or elsewhere, he left to the 
Emperor; hoping by this means to secure the monarch's favor for the boy. 

It is doubtful what part the ^Marquis Francisco Pizarro, for the royal grant 
had given him that title, had in the execution of Almagro. According to 
some accounts, he was surprised and shocked when he heard what had been 
done. According to other authorities, a messenger had come from Hernando 
Pizarro, asking what should be done with the prisoner; and the Governor 
had returned this answer: — 

" Deal with him so that he shall give us no more trouble." 
Hernando afterward shielded himself from blame in regard to Almagro's 
death by instructions which he said were received from the Governor. It is 
certain that had Pizarro wished to do so, he might have prevented the death 
of Almagro. 

When he did reach Cuzco, Diego de Alvarado applied to him on behalf of 
his ward, young Almagro, for the government of the southern provinces. 



412 ri/\i;i:o. tmi-; discoakukk ok )'KI!I'. 

" TIic inarslial, by his rebellion, lias forfeited all claims to llie g:o\ern- 
meiit," was the stern reply. 

Alvarado persisted; Imt Pizarro bluntly broke off all pleadings by the dec- 
laration : — 

" Our own territory covers all on this side of Flanders." 

An<l doubtless he swore when he said it some such oath as are associated 
with the name of " our army in Flanders." 

Pizarro now assumed more the manner of a conqueror and of a tyrant than 
ever; treating the natives with great severity, and the followers of Almagro 
with much contempt. Hernando Pizarro was about to goto Spain again; 
and, before he went, he counciledhis brother to "beware of themenof Chili,"' 
as Almagro's men were called; and characterized them as desperate men, 
who would do anything for revenge. The Governor, however, laughed at 
his fears, saying that " every hair in the heads of Almagro's followers was a 
guarantee for his safety." 

Hernando sailed from Lima in the summer of lf)3it. The story that he had 
to tell was not wholly pleasingto the Court ; but it was difficult to take action 
to correct the evils without making them worse by the effort. It was obvious, 
too, that only one side of the story had been presented. The Crown accord- 
ingly sent the Licentiate Vaca de Castro, a member of the Royal Audience of 
Valladolid, to Peru as a royal judge, to consult with Pizarro concerning the 
best method of amending and preventing evils, and to transmit to Spain a 
fair account of the state of the country. In case of Pizarro's death, he was 
to produce the royal warrant by whic^h he was named Governor of Peru. 

Meanwhile Pizarro busied himself in building up the province of which he 
was the Governor; despising the scattered followers of Almagro too heartily 
to take any precautions against them. They were indeed very poor; so that 
it is said of twelve who lived in one house, that they had but one cloak among 
them, and while one of them went out and wore that in his turn, the other 
eleven remained at home, too proud to acknowledge that they had no cloak. 

When these men heard of the appointment of the royal judge, their spirits 
wei'e greatly raised; for they hoped that their young leader would be put in 
possession of the government of Chili, and that all their wrongs would be re- 
dressed. Two of them, dressed in mourning, were deputed to wait on him as 
soon as he should arrive. 

But his coming was long delayed; and at last the news was received that 
the squadron had met with heavy storms, that most of the vessels had foun- 
dered, and that the commissioner had doubtless perished. Their last hope 
of legal redress was gone; and the desperate men resolved to take the law 
into their own hands, and revenge the death of their leader ujion the Gov- 
ernor who had allowed him to be executed. 

The day fixed for the assassination of Pizarro was Sunday. June 26, lool. 



riZAURO, TIIK DISCOVEUEK OF PERU. 413 

Eighteen or twenty of them wei'e to assemble in Almagro's house, and fall 
upon him as he came from mass; a white flag tlying from an upper window 
was to summon their comrades to their support. 

But there was one of the conspirators who found this plot too heavy a bur- 
den for his conscience. He revealed it to his confessor; and the priest told 
Pizarro's secretary, Picado. The Governor himself was informed. 

"It is a device of the priest's," he replied, scornfully; "he wants a 
miter." 

Pizarro repeated the story to Velasquez, the judge; but he seemed no morc^ 
anxious about it than the Governor. 

"You need have no fear," he assured the ruler, " for no harm shall come 
to you while the rod of Justice is in my hands." 

Yet he took no pains to trace the conspirators or prevent their meeting. 
The sole precaution that was taken was that Pizarro, under pi-etense of ill- 
ness, remained at home that day, instead of going to church as usual. 

The conspirators, when they learned of this change of plan, were uncertain 
what to do. While they were debating what course would be best, one of 
them, throwing open the door of the house where they had met, cried out: — 
" Follow me, or I will proclaim for what purpose ye have met," and rushed 
out, toward Pizarro's house, followed closely by his comrades, reanimated by 
his example. 

It was noon, the fashionable dinner-hour of the sixteenth century. As they 
rushed along, the streets were nearly deserted ; but many came out to see what 
the excitement was about. There seems to have been now no effort at con- 
cealment of their purpose, but still there was no interference; Pizarro was 
not popular. 

Two domestics, loitering outside his door, were met, and one was struck 
down; the other escaped into the house, and gave the alarm. 

"Help! Help! The men of Chili are all coming to murder the Marquis!" 
Pizarro, surrounded by a party of friends, made no effort to escape, although 
most of them made their way into a corridor which overlooked the gardens, 
and let themselves down that way. Thus deserted by nearly all, Pizarro 
called out to an officer in his antechamber to secure the door, while he and his 
brother buckled on their armor. Had this order been obeyed, the conspira- 
tors could have been kept at bay; but the officer parleyed with the assassins, 
who forced their way past him, running him through the body as he resisted. 
" Where is the Marquis?" they shouted; " Death to the tyrant! " 
There was a brief but bloody struggle, Pizarro and his few companions 
fighting desperately against the equally desperate conspirators. Two of them 
fell by his own hand; but their numbers were so far superior that they could 
relieve one another in the hand-to-hand combat, and thus wear out the strength 
of the defenders. At last the chief of the conspirators cried : — 



414 IMZAKUO, rilK DISCOVKKKH OK I'KUU. 

" AVliy arc wo so loiij; ahoul it? Down with tlic tyrant ! " 
A moment more, and Pizarro reeled and fell to the iloor, a sword liaving 
woniuU'd him in the throat; instantly the swoi-ds of the chief and several of 




Thk KnxrNfi ok Pizarro. 



his men were plunged into his body. Tracing a cross on the bloody floor witii 
his finger, the wounded man bent down his head to kiss it; when, even in this 
moment of devotion, he received another blow, and that proved fatal at once. I 
Thus died the Conqueror of Peru. 



PIZARKO, THE DISCOVERER OF PERU. 415 

The men of Chili hastened to recognize young Almagro as Governor and 
Captain-General of Peru, and to install their own partisans in the government 
of the city; but there were no acts of violence. Some of them desired to 
drag the corpse of the late Governor to the market-place, and set the head 
upon a gibbet; but this was prevented by the more moderate of the party, and 
Almagro gave his friends permission to inter him. 

' One faithful attendant assisted his wife in wrapping the body in a piece of 
cotton cloth, and a few black servants removed it to the cathedral. Here a 
grave was hastily dug in an obscure corner, and by night and in seci-ecy, the 
darkness around them made visible by a few small tapers, the bloody corpse 
of Pizarro was buried, while, in the words of the old chronicler, " there 
was none even to say, 'God forgive him ! ' " 

A few years later Pizarro's remains were removed to a conspicuous part of 
the cathedral; and in 1607, his bones were removed to the new cathedral, 
where they have been permitted to rest. 

With the death of Pizarro closes the history of the discovery and conquest 
of Peru. What followed is national history, which has no place in the pres- 
ent pages. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

FEKDINANT) T)E SOTO, DISCOYKREK OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 

Birth and Descent — Voulh and Education — The Young Man's Love — A Stern Parent— 
A Treachennis Foe — Dangerous Honors — De Avila Recalled — De Soto in I'eru — Return to 
Spain — Marriage— His Great Expedition — EH'orts to Colonize North America — J'once de Leon 
— Narvacz — An Unfriendly Reception — Dillicultiesof the Journey — A Disgusted Lieutenant — 
Tlie Indian Princess — Tuscaloosa — The Fight at Mobile — Discovery of the Mississippi — 
Advancing Westward — The Retreat — De Soto's Death — Hurial in the Mississippi— Return of 
the Expedition — A Broken Heart. 

(^J^ UTHORITIES differ as to the year in which Ferdinand De Soto first 
^^ saw tlie light; some historians assert that it was in 1490; some place 
^ ''V^^an interrogation point after this date; and others say that it was 
four years later. It is most probable that he was born in 1500 ; since he was 
evidently but a boy when he first sought the hand of a noble Spanish lady. 

Of that, however, there shall be more hereafter; oiir first concern must 
be with the circumstances of his childhood and youth, before he had any 
idea of being a squire of dames. lie was a native of Xeres, a small town 
about a hundred and thirty miles southwest of .Madrid. The town is walled, 
not only by battlements reared by the hand of man, but by rugged hills 
which completely surround it. On the summit of each hill rises an ancient 
castle, the residence of some noble Spaniard of the long ago; but these are 
all in ruins now. One of them, at least, was not far from that condition 
four hundred years ago; it was that which sheltered the Soto family; their 
fortunes as ruined as their castle. 

Ferdinand was a younger son, so that in any case he would not have suc- 
ceeded to a fortune; but as it was, his father was so poor that he could not 
afford to give his son even the education of a gentleman of the time. As we 
have elsewhere noted, it was the custom then to |)lace boys of good birth 
under the protection of some great noble, who, in return for a certain sum 
of money paid him, had the boy educated in his household as a page and later 
as a squire ; interesting iiimself, when tiie youth had achieved the dignity of 
knighthood, to see that he had opportunities to acquire distinction, or was 
gi\cn some lucrative post by the Crown. Young De Soto, howe\ er, had no 
such advantages ; whatever he learned of Latin — then a necessary part of e\- 
ery gentleman's education — and the polite arts was prol)al)Iy derived from 
the village priest; his acquaintance with the manly accomplishments in 
which he was such a proficient was picked up from the training of some old 
servant who had been in the wars, as every man of the times was apt to have 

(416) 



UK SOTO, THE DISCOVKRER OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 



417 



been, and from .some brief advice of his father. Fortune denied him every 
advantage; but nature gave him all that it was in her power to bestow. 

Tall, well-built, graceful, active, the youth had the good fortune to attract 
the attention of Don Pedro Arias de Avila, or Pedrarias, as he is frequently 
called ; the very tyrant by whose command the gallant Balboa had been ex- 
ecuted. Pedrarias could be generous as well as cruel ; and he sent young De 
Soto to the University, where he might acquire some of the education which 
had seemed to be denied him. The youth does not seem to have remained 
there long; for in 1519 we find him thirsting for adventure in the New World. 

Pedrarias had been recalled from his post 
as Governor of Darien, but in the year men- 
tioned had again been appointed to that high 
otHce, and was about to sail to the scene of his 
rule. In the midst of his preparations, young 
Do Soto, who had always been treated by him 
and his household as a beloved child, sought 
an interview with the high official. He did 
not ask for jjreferment, however; his suit was 
of another kind. 

Pedrarias had, six years before, betrothed 
his eldest daughter to the unfortunate Balboa; 
his second daughter was now growing up to 
womanhood, and had seen and been seen by 
the youthful dependent on her father's bounty 
bcllahad fallen in love with each other, and the young man asked her father's 
consent to their marriage. 

The haughty old Spaniard started like a spirited horse under the lash. This 
penniless adventurer, this beggar who fed from his bounty, marry Isabella 
de Avila? Never. The boy was surely mad; as for the girl, she would come to 
her senses before long. 

But Donna Isabella vowed that before she would marry any one else she 
would retire into a convent. The threat was an alarming one ; for against it 
the father was powerless. If the girl chose, in a momentary fit of resentment, 
to enter a convent, he, as a good Catholic, could not oppose her; if she de- 
cided to become the bride of Heaven, he would be worse than a heretic who 
would attempt to prevent her. The affair was one to be managed very care- 
fully. 

Eating but lightly the lives of those who stood in his way, the first impulse 
of Pedrarias was to cause De Soto to be assassinated ; but reflection convinced 
him that this would not do at all; Donna Isabella would, in grief for her mar- 
tyred lover, retire to the convent at once; and Pedrarias doubtless had some 
richer and more powerful noble in tow to whom he designed to give her. 




FERDI^A^D Dl boro 
De Soto and Donna Isa- 



418 DE SOTO, THE DISCOVERER OF THK MISSISSIPPI. 

lu the ineantiiiie young Dc Soto had gone hoiiR' to his father's houise, burn- 
ing with the remembrance of the insults which the angry Pedrarias had heaped 
upon him; and was brooding over the poverty wliich had caused him to be 
rejected. For his family was as noble as his lady love's, his character was 
above reproach; it was poverty alone which made him the butt of her father's 
contempt. How should he remedy the evil? How, but by seeking fortune 
in the New World, where so many others had found it? Who could tell what 
incalculable wealth inightlie hiddensomewhere in the far interior of the great 
continent? Cortes and Pizarro had not yet undertaken their careers of con- 
quest; but every European devoutly believed in the enormous possibilities of 
America. 

While he was thus dreaming, and casting about to lind some means of reach- 
ing the Golden Country, he was astonished to receive from Pedrarias himself 
an invitation to join the expedition to Darien which he was then fitting out. 
De Soto could not imagine the reason for this sudden change, unless the stern 
father really meant to relent at last, and was giving the suitor an opportun- 
ity to show his worth. In fact, Pedrarias had no such intentions. He knew 
perfectly well that there are many dangerous errands to be done by the fol- 
lowers of the ruler of a new country, and that dangers are sought as honors 
by the brave. It was his benevolent purpose to honor De Soto in this way 
until be should succeed in getting the young man killed by the natives. Isa- 
bella would doubtless mourn for a while; but she could be persuaded that it 
was her duty to submit to an overruling Providence, and would in time for- 
get her gallant young lover. 

It was probably about this time that De Soto went to an astrologer, who 
consulted the stars on his behalf and informed him that he should not live 
longer than the gallant and ill-fated Balboa, whose life his own would re- 
semble. As this gave him something like twenty years yet to live, the young 
man decided that it was sufficiently favorable, and accepted with thanks the 
invitation of the crafty hidalgo. 

He received a captain's commission, and his outfit was provided by 
the generosity of his early patron, Pedrarias. They set sail, and arrived 
at Darien in safety. Once there, De Soto felt that Pedrarias had indeed re- 
stored him to favor; for every dangerous and difficult mission was intrusted 
to him. There was constant trouble with the natives who, under Balboa's 
benign rule, had been peaceful and unoffending; for it was the policy of Pe- 
drarias to provoke them by wanton cruelty, and then to punish their outbreak 
by confiscation and slavery, if not by the kinder infliction of death. Ko 
tongue can tell what the aborigines endured at the hands of the early Span- 
ish settlers; and the heart sickens at the meager recital sometimes given. 

But De Soto's hands were clean; often he disobeyed the orders of the gov- 
ernor, anxious as he was to win that governor's approval, and to insure wealth 



DE SOTO, THE DISCOVERER OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 419 

for himself. There has come down to us one instance of such disobedience, 
and the manner in which the crafty Pedrarias tried to turn the tables upon 
De Soto, and get rid of his troublesome young protege. 

Pedrarias had resolved that a certain native village should be destroyed; 
his reasons matter little now, but it was an outrage, pure and simple, which 
he designed. He detailed the plan to a certain Captain Perez; the huts must 
be burned, and every living creature slain: and bade him carry to De Soto 
orders to proceed against the place. De Soto, who was on the frontier, as 
we should say, received the messenger, and listened composedly to what he 
had to say; the whole plan of the governor was laid before him. 

"Go back and say to the governor. Captain Perez," returned De Soto, 
forcing himself to such calmness as becomes the soldier receiving the com- 
mands of his superior, "that my life and services are always at his command 
when the duty to be performed is such as may become a Christian and a gen- 
tleman. But in this case, Captain Perez, I think that he would have shown 
more discretion by intrusting you with this commission, instead of sending 
you with the order to me." 

Pedrarias had not expected that De Soto would obey the order; had disci- 
pline been stricter, he might have punished him for refusing; but then, too, 
there was another reason why he should not treat De Soto as he had treated 
Balboa. He simply shrugged his shoulders, smiled slightly, and said to Perez, 
who was a noted duelist, and never missed his man in such a rencontre: — 

"Well, my friend, if you, who are a vigorous young soldier, can patiently 
endure De Soto's insolence, I see no reason why an infirm old man like my- 
self should not show equal forbearance." 

The hint was so broad that a less fiery soldier than Perez might well have 
seen it; and he lost no time in challenging his comrade. To decline such a 
challenge was impossible for any man who did not wish to be rated a coward, 
no matter in what other ways he had proved his courage; and De Soto valued 
his honor too highly to think of avoiding such a quarrel. But Perez, who 
had always killed his man in previous duels, met his match this time. The 
duel took place in the midst of all the officers and gentlemen of the colony, 
and was a rare exhibition of skill in fencing. Much to the mortification of 
Perez, a clever stroke of his antagonist's sent his weapon spinning from his 
hand. Disarmed, he was too much ashamed to beg for his life, but main- 
tained a sullen silence when De Soto demanded that he should ask for 
quarter. 

"A life that is not worth asking for is not worth taking," exclaimed the 
victor, sheathing his sword, and turning disdainfully from his prostrate 
antagonist. 

Perez, mortified at his defeat by a mere youth, who had not yet achieved 
distinction as a soldier, resigned his commission and returned to Spain. De 



420 l>K SOTO, TIIK DISCOVKKKK OK TIIK MISSlSSlI'l'l. 

Soto roiiiaiiu'd at Darien, resolved to achieve fame and wealth, but not to 
sacrifice iiis iioiior. DeAvihi's haired for him increased daily; and a friendly 
astrologer warned the young man that the utmost caution would be neces- 
sary if he would avoid a disgraceful death. This hint was given in return for 
Soto's having saved the diviner's life; but although it was pretended that 
the information was gathered fronj the stars, it is far more pr()i)able that the 
astrologer had secret knowledge of de Avila's intentions, which he dared not 
betray, but against which he wished to warn liis benefactor. 

Five years went on in this manner; but the lover had received not a word 
from his lady, nor she from him; the power of the governor had been used 
to intcrce[)t all letters of the kind. The enmity of the otKcial grew more 
open as time went on ; the term for which he was ai)pointed was almost at an 
end, and the hated suitor still lived. Something must be done. 

Such was the condition of affairs when a certain man was tried for some 
offense, and sentenced to death. He had been unfortunate enough to pro- 
voke the governor's resentment in some way, and his trial was the merest 
mockery; the trumi)ed-up charge was proven to the satisfaction of the pre- 
judiced judge, and the so-called justice was about to take its course. But De 
Soto was truly a brave man; his courage showed itself, not on the battle-field 
alone, but in the city and in the court as well. He protested vehemently 
against the execution of an innocent man ; and de Avila, enraged at his pre- 
sumption, caused him to be arrested and thrown into prison. The attempt to 
prevent such an outrage against justice was dubbed treason, since he was try- 
ing to interfere with the royal court; and the gallant defender of the inno- 
cent was himself sentenced to death. Only the timely arrival of the new gov- 
ernor, de Avila's successor, saved him from Balboa's fate at the hand of Bal- 
boa's deadly enemy. 

It may readily be believed that De Soto was not anxious to follow his for- 
mer patron to Nicaragua, of which Pedrariashad now become governor; nor 
was he desirous of renuiining at Darien; ten years' residence there had con- 
vinced him that not on the isthmus was fame to be won or wealth to be se- 
cured. It had not been his privilege to be enrolled among those daring spir- 
its who had followed Cortes to the gates of Mexico, and after such unheard 
of adventures had become the conquerors of the Montezumas; but there was 
another adventurer who had more than once invited De Soto to become one 
iOf his followers, proffering him a high command in his little army. But De 
Soto, as proud and high-1)orn as he was poor, had always hesitated to enroll 
himself as a follower of the base-born, illiterate, cowardly, cruel Pizarro. 
Now, however, it seemed to be the only thing left ; and when Pizarro, organ- 
izing that last and successful expedition against Peru, offered De Soto the 
second place in his little army, the offer was accepted. 

"We need not follow the progress of the Spaniards here ; it has already been 



DE S<JTO, TllK DISCOVERER l)f rilK MlKSK^SlI'l'I. 421 

detailed iu the chapter devoted to the leader of the expedition against Peru. 
What part De Soto took in the war cannot now be deterniin(Hl ; we know that 
he reserved to himself the right to disobey orders, the carrying out of which 
would, according to his ideas, have left a stain upon his honor; and we know 
that Pizarro frequently contrived some means of getting him out of the way 
whenever a particularly disgraceful action was contemplated. When the 
cruel and perfidious Spaniard, for instance, had determined that the unfor- 
tunate Inca should die, De Soto was sentupon an errand of a military nature 
which would keep him away until they should have had time to perpetrate 
the outrage. In this case, again, the reader is referred to other pages for the 
account of De Soto's resentment when he discovered the truth. 

Yet we cannot hold our knight blameless in this matter. It was his manly 
})earing which led the Peruvians, many times, to repose a trust in his country- 
men which they were far from placing in the others. However he may have 
abhorred their jDractices, he continued to be one of Pizarro's followers; and 
although he tried very hard to lessen the amount of ransom which the luck- 
less Atahualpa was condemned to pay, we do not read that he protested 
against accepting that part of it which was allotted to him as his share of the 
spoils. 

The story of the expedition reached Spain, where it was told with more 
truth than might have been expected. With what delight Donna Isabella, 
who still remained faithful to her knight, heard that to him was due much of 
its success, we can better imagine than describe; and we maybe sure that she 
did now weigh against his courage, his prudence and his humanity any 
thoughts of what he might have done had he been more consistent. 

Disgusted with the character of Pizarro, and resolved that he would no 
longer follow the leadership of such a ruffian, De Soto returned to Spain, 
laden with his share of the spoils. "An hundred and fourscore thousand 
ducats," says the old chronicler, made up the fortune which he carried from 
Peru to Castile; a sum equivalent to nearly four hundred thousand dollars 
of United States money. This was at a time when the purchasing power of 
money was about three times as greatas at present, so that we uuiy faii-ly con- 
sider De Soto a millionaire when he returned to Spain. 

He was now a highly desirable "catch"' for Donna Isabella de Avila, who 
must have been somewhat passee by this time, and who was still faithful to 
him. They were married; and the happy couple settled at Madrid. De 
Soto had been received at court with the highest marks of favor, and created 
a marquis in recognition of his services to the Crown in the conquest of Peru. 
It seemed that they had nothing to do but to live happy ever afterward in 
their magnificent mansion. 

But the mansion proved a little too magnificent for their fortune, vast as 
it was; and two years had barely passed when De Soto found that his capital 



■l'2'2 UK SOTU, T1U-; KISCCIVKHKR l)K TlIK MISSISSlI'l'I. 

had been diminished to one-half the orijiinal amount. This was not to Ix' 
endured; lie had no mind to retrench, lest lie should boronie the laugiiing- 
stock of his associates and flatterers; so he determined to seek new adven- 
tures, new honors, and a new fortune in the world beyond the waters. 

He had tried the isthmus, and found that no wealth was to be ac<iuired 
there; he had tried South America, but was convinced that those who were 
already in possession, his former comrades, would hold with a firm hand all 
that was to be found there; C'ortes and his followers were masters of Mexico; 
it was farther to the north that he must seek distinction and wealth. Surely, 
in the vast stretches of the northern continent there must be at least one 
more Peru, with its incalculable treasures of gold and silver and gems; that 
would he find for himself, his actions untrammeled by association with men 
of Pizarro's stamp; there would be found an empire, which if not — 
" Broad-based upon his people's will, 
And compassed by the inviolate sea," 
should be loyal to the King and beneficent to the people. 

There had been some previous attempts to explore the northern continent. 
Ponce de Leon was the first whose name is connected with its history. He 
had been a companion of Columbus on the second voyage of the great dis- 
coverer, and had been by him appointed to the governorship of the eastern 
part of Hispaniola. In l.")l)8 he had sailed on an expedition to Porto Eico, 
which he conquered, and of which he became the duly appointed governor in 
the succeeding year. His rule there was marked with such vigor that the 
Columbus family e.xerted all their influence to have him removed from this 
high position, as one whose administration was calculated to disarrange all 
the affairs of neighboring islands. In 1.512, he sailed from the scene of his 
late rule to search for the faliled Fountain of Youth, of which his advancing 
years made him feel the need. This was sui)posed to exist somewhere in the 
Bahamas; but a search among those islands failed to disclose its where- 
abouts. Ponce de Leon then sailed for the main land, and, on Easter Sun- 
day, 1512, arrived off the coast of the continent of North America. The 
shores of that peninsula which extends southward toward Yucatan were cov- 
ered with a profusion of beautiful foliage and flowers, and from their ap- 
])carance, and from the Spanish name for Easter — the Feast of Flowers — he 
named the new found land Florida. 

The designation has since become restricted to the peninsula alone, but in 
the days of which wc write it was applied to the whole northern continent. 
The discovei'cr, therefore, when he received the title of Governor of Flor- 
ida, became the nominal ruler of all North America. His cffoits to colonize 
his possessions, however, were ill-fated; wounded by one of the natives, he 
returned to Cuba, where he died shortly afterward. The colony, it is need- 
less to say, did not long outlive its founder. 



DE SOTO, THE DISCOVERER OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 423 

Fifteen years afterward, that same Pamphilo de Narvaez who had gone to 
Mexico after Cortes and had been defeated by the great conqueror of Mon- 
tezuma, made an attempt to found a second colony on the coast of Florida : 
having received the royal commission as governor. Four hundred men fol- 
lowed his standard ; but contrary to their expectations, they found the coun- 
try sparsely populated, the people poor. He met with such bitter hostility 
on the part of the war-like tribes whose country he attempted to invade, that 
he and his men were glad to escape from the inhospitable shores in rude 
boats, which they constructed hastily. Their proposed destination was Mex- 
ico; but a storm overtook them near the mouth of the Mississippi, and the 
greater part of the adventurers, including the leader, were lost. A handful 
of them escaped, and spread abroad the story of their effort. 

Disastrous though its results were, these returned adventurers did not al- 
together blacken the character of the country in which they had met with 
misfortune. They rather intimated that had they had a different leader, or 
had he been willing to follow their advice, the expedition would have met 
with success. Certain it is that De Soto became fired with the idea of plant- 
ing an empire on the northern half of the lately discovered continent, and 
requested the royal permission to >indertake the colonization of Florida. 

As he gave the royal officers distinctly to understand that he proposed to 
fit out this expedition at his own expense, and asked nothing whatever from 
the royal treasury, the desired permission was not withheld; and he was duly 
invested with the sounding titles, dear to a Spaniard's heart, of Governor of 
Cuba and President of Florida. 

Recruits flocked to his standard; many came because they thought it of- 
fered an opportunity of gaining such wealth as De Soto himself had acquired 
in Peru; others came because there must be honor in following De Soto, a 
knight saii.s 2>cti)' et sans reproche; and whether they went for gold or glory, 
they felt assured of success, because their leader risked his own wealth and 
reputation. Everything was sacrificed to procure suitable outfits; one man 
found himself obliged to take his wife with him, since after procuring the 
needful articles for his journey, there was nothing left for her to live upon. 
From the army of those who offered, De Soto selected six hundred; it was 
impossible to take a larger number; and some of those who had sacrificed 
their estates to fit themselves out were denied the privilege of accompanying 
the expedition. Accoi'ding to some authorities, four hundred of them per- 
suaded him to relent in their favor, so that his total force numbered a thou- 
sand. Certain it is that he had ten ships in the fleet which set sail, in the early 
part of April, 1538. 

What became of the Donna Isabella? She would not deny her husband his 
right to seek new adventures in that New World where he had achieved dis- 
tinction and won the wealth which brought herfather'stardy consenttotheir 



UE SOTO, THE DISCOVEKEK OF THE MISSISSIIMM . 42 j 

marriage; but .she would not let the broad Atlantic separate them again. 
With true wifely devotion .she accompanied him as far as Cuba, where the 
adventurers spent some time in feasting and merry-making, as well as in more 
serious preparation for the journey. 

A supply of excellent horses was obtained here, the descendants of the ani- 
mals brought from Spain by the first settlers; a prominent Cuban, who was 
anxious to secure a fresh supply of Indian slaves to work his mines, be- 
came lieutenant of the expedition; and May 18, 1538, they sailed from 
Havana. 

It was a week before they came in sight of the coast of Florida, so stormy 
was the weather; and the shallowness of the water prevented them from ap- 
proaching within two leagues of the shore. Upon the beach, stretching away 
to the north and the south, beacon-fires shone through the darkness of the 
night ; a sign that their coming was perceived and I'egarded as a danger by the 
natives. In truth, the Indians had only too good cause to look upon the 
white man as an enemy ; such had been the treatment which they had received 
at the hands of those composing the two previous expeditions. Narvaez and 
Ponce de Leon had sown the wind, and De Soto was to reap the whirlwind. 

Morning showed the Indians gathered upon the beach near which the Span- 
iards had cast anchor for the night, and many hostile demonstrations showed 
the white men that they would not be permitted to land without opposition. 
De Soto judging that in this case discretion was the better jDart of valor, and 
hoping that if an immediate conflict were prevented, he might be able to 
make friends with the natives, gave orders to proceed about two leagues 
farther up the bay, and there try to effect a landing. 

They had anchored in Hillsboro Bay, a branch of Tampa Bay. They suc- 
ceeded in landing without coming into collision with the aborigines, and Dc 
Soto dispatched several strong parties inland on reconnoitering expeditions. 
One of these, having gone about ten miles, captured two or three fugitive 
Indians, and took them to the leader. He questioned them, by signs and ])y 
the help of some West Indian natives who had accompanied him ; and learned 
from them something of the inhumanities practiced by Narvaez and his fol- 
lowers; their chief, Ucita, had been mutilated, his mother had been murdered, 
and a thousand nameless indignities been offered his unoffending people, who 
had received the strangers with much kindness. 

It is said that DeSoto now saw for the first time why the Indians received 
him with such hostile demonstrations; it seems hardly credible when we re- 
flect that he had been in Peru at the time of its conquest, and knew that two 
other expeditions had preceeded his own. He endeavored, however, to con- 
ciliate the natives; and loading the captives with presents, bade them return 
to their chief. The message which that justly indignant warrior returned was 
not reassuring: — 



42() UK sort), TllK Dl.sCOVEkKU OF THK MlSSliSSIl'I'I. 

" Brin<; iiio no speeches or promises from lliese men," suid lie: •■ 1 wiiiifc 
only tlu'ir licads." 

De Soto recognized the importance of being on good terms with this pow- 
erful coast tribe, so there would be no enemy between him and the sea if he 
were compelled to retreat; but Ucita was obdurate; neither gifts nor fair 
words could move him; and the Spanish leader's lieutenant, Vasco Porcallo, 
the Cuban, asked and received permission to punish the stubborn and hard- 
hearted chief. 

When he returned to camp, Porcallo announced, he would bring with him 
Ucita and as many of his people as could conveniently betransportcd to Cuba; 
and, arraying himself in a suit of glittering armor which might have become a 
knight at a tournament, he set out. Nothing could check the impetuosity of 
his advance; and even when became to the edge of a bog he determined that 
he would not listen to his followers, who advised him not toattemi)t to cross 
it, since it would not bear horsemen as heavily accoutcred as they were. He 
rode forward at tliesame rate of speed as when his way lay over dry ground; 
but was soon forced to advance more slowly. Gradually he ])ecame more and 
more deeply involved; his horse .sank beneath his weight, and Houndered 
helplessly about in the mud; and it was all that his followers, nearly 
overcome with laughter at his position, could do to get him out of the 
mud. 

Porcallo resigned his commission and returned to Cuba; a ditficulty well 
out of Dc Soto's way, since the presence of a determined slave-hunter could 
not but be a source of danger to him and his follower's. He had, in a previous 
expedition, however, accidentally served his leader well; for he had come 
upon a certain Juan Ortiz, a Spaniard who had been a follower of Narvaez, 
and who had been captured and condemned to death )>y Ucita. The chief's 
daughter, however, pitied the captive, and assisted him to escape — not, in- 
deed, to his own people, but to the village of the chief to whom she was be- 
trothed, and on whom she naturally exercised more influence than upon her 
father. Through Ortiz this friendly chief, Mocoso, became their friend, and 
provided them with a guide when it became necessary. 

De Soto now prepared for a journey inland; andseut his ships back to Cuba 
with orders to return at a specified time with such supplies as would be needed 
by his men. He then left forty men as a guard for the ships when they should 
return, and advanced to the north, sending an advance guard under Don 
Balthasar Gallegos before the main body, under the guidance of a friendly 
Indian of Mocoso's tribe. This party had reached a point some tifty miles 
north of the main camp when they came upon an Indian village, the inhabit- 
ants of which had fled at their approach. Messengers soon came, on behalf 
of the chief of that village, offering any service in their power. As an answer 
to these friendly advances, Gallegos caused the messengers to be loaded with 



t)E SOTO, THE DISCOVERER OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 427 

chaiu.s, aud required them to tell him where ho could find a land aliounding in 
gold and silver. 

Indian craft proved equal to Spanish cruelty, and the captives gravelj^old 
him of a laud far to the northwest, where there was eternal summer, and 
where gold was so plentiful that the people wore hats or helmets of it. The 
Spaniards greedil.y swallowed these stories, and Gallegos at once sent eight 
of his men to carry the welcome news to De Soto: the leader and all his sol- 
diers, says the worthy chronicler, "were very much comforted by the assur- 
ance that their toils were about to be rewarded by the discovery of another 
Peru." 

De Soto, with the main body, at once hastened forward, to hear again the 
welcome news of the riches of the country which lay beyond. Many difficul- 
ties beset his way. Mocoso, the only chief who was at all friendly to the 
Spaniards, had been persuaded by his allies to refuse to furnish any more 
guides to the strangers; the actions of Gallegos had been such as to make 
bitter enemies of the Indians through whose country he was now advancing; 
and they harrassed his movements in every possible way. A thousand times 
the warriors, concealed behind the trunk of a tree, fired upon the advancing 
army of Spaniards; or a body of nimble Indians, rushing from the forest, 
would discharge a flight of arrows among the Spaniards and retreat to 
its shelter again before the white men had fairly laid hold of their weap- 
ons. 

Nor were the swamps a small pai't of the difficulties which impeded their 
advance. Several days were consumed in searching for a path by which they 
could cross Long Swamp, which is more than three miles wide; and at last 
they set themselves to building rafts for the purpose. Even with that help, 
they were two days in crossing it. Mounted men were sent ahead as scouts, 
but were frequently ambushed by the Indians, and their fate known only when 
their dead bodies were found. More than once, captives were made to serve 
as guides; but they literally chose to die rather than to guide tlie strangers 
into their own country; for they misled the Spaniards, pretending to have 
lost their way, and calmly met death at the hands of the enraged whites. 

De Soto now resolved to change his policy; and having, after crossing a 
second morass and a sluggish stream where they lost several men by the ar- 
rows of concealed enemies, taken some prisoners, he caused them to be load- 
ed with gifts and sent to their homes ; trusting that they might persuade their 
chief, the cacique of Aguera, to conclude a treaty with him. The chief re- 
plied that with such as the Spaniards he wished to be always at war, and that 
the only kindness they could do him or his people was to leave the country. 
All De Soto's arguments were unavailing; and, finding that the Spaniard 
would not take "no " for an answer, the Indian began to threaten the stran- 
gers. These threats were emphasized by bloodshed wherever white men were 



428 DE SOTO, THE DISCOVERER OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 

found iilonc or in small parties; and De Soto lost fourteen men inside df 
twcntj' days. 

Despairing of drawing the Indians into an open battle, in which his followers 
would have stood some chance, the knight withdrew at last to Oeala, forty 
miles farther north. They had hoped to tind provisions here, but were disap- 
pointed; for the village, the largestthatthey hadyet seen, was deserted. The 
Spaniards had consumed almost their whole stock of food, and for some time 
the prospect before them included, among other hardships, starvation. 

As they advanced northward, however, they were encoui-aged by the sight 
of extensive corn-tields, which promised an abundance of food for them- 
selves, their horses, and the vast drove of hogs which they had with them, 
to supply meat for their party. The ground, too, was tirmer; no morasses 
beset their way; but still the natives were as unfriendly as ever; nordid.they 
learn that they were near the summerland whose inhabitants wore hats of 
gold. 

They seemed, however, "to have met with a friend; a chief named Vitacu- 
cho invited them to visit him, and entertained them in rude magnificence. 
But his purpose w-as a treacherous one; let the Spaniards once be lulled into 
a feeling of security, and he and his people would massacre every one. 

Four of the Indians who acted as guides to De Soto were taken into the 
secret, Vitacucho supposing that they would be as anxious as he to rid the 
couutry of these invaders. Tliey had been kindly treated by their new mas- 
ter, however, and that had won their gratitude; they betrayed the counsel of 
the chief to him ; he feigned ignorance of the plan, and trusted that when the 
chosen time should come he should be able to save himself and his men. 

Vitacucho perfected his plans, and then invited De Soto to witness a dis- 
play of his forces. The invitation was perforce accepted, and De Soto, un- 
der pretense of showing greater respect for the chief, ordered his soldiers to 
appear armed as for actual battle. The chief did not like this any better 
than the Spaniard had liked the invitation, but had no better reason for ob- 
jecting, so accepted the compliment. With the greatest friendliness of man- 
ner the two commanders walked side by side to the field where the double 
display of warlike strength was to take place. 

An impenetrable thicket was on one side of the place where the Indian 
force was drawn up, several thousand strong; on their other hand were two 
small lakes. They were all well-formed, athletic men in the prime of life; 
and their plumes, which once had decked the swan and heron, made them 
appear of the stature of giants; but they were wholly unarmed. Opposite 
them were the Spanish foot-soldiers, and ranged between the two infantry 
forces was the Spanish cavalry. At a suddenly given signal from A'itacu- 
cho, the Indians snatched up the bows and arrows which they had hidden in 
the long grass at their feet, and rushed upon the enemy. De Soto instantly 



DE SOTO, THE DISCOVEREK OF THE MISSISSIPPI; 429 

sprang upon his horse, and gave the signal for the cavalry to advance; while 
the twelve soldiers who formed his body-guard seized and bound the faithless 
chief. The onslaught of the cavalry was slightly delayed by the fact that the 
leader's horse was shot almost as soon as he had mounted; but quickly dis- 
encumbering himself from the dead animal, De Soto mounted another and 
charged furiously upon the Indians. Their line of battle was soon broken, 
and they fled in confusion; but many of them plunged into the lake, and 
from beneath the broad water-lily leaves shot arrows at the Spaniards; keep- 
ing up this singular species of warfare for ten hours. At last, however, they 
were either killed or captured, and Vitacucho and many of his tribe re- 
mained as prisoners in the bauds of the Spaniards. A week later, however, 
in a desperate attempt to regai-n their liberty, they met the kinder fate, 
death. 

But the Spaniards, victorious as they were, were disheartened by the death 
of so many of their comrades and by the stories which the Indians had told 
them of the hardships and difliculties which they had yet to encounter. They 
insisted upon returning to the coast, to sail for Havana as soon as the ships 
should return. De Soto alone, "astern man, and of few words," was de- 
termined to advance; and it proved that his inflexible will ruled his hun- 
dreds of followers. 

"You who are so easily discouraged," he said, "may stay behind. You 
have never yet seen me shrink from the post of danger; and I will now ad- 
vance, with two hundred men, or even a smaller number, and meet all the 
enemies that are likely to offer any opposition to our progress." 

Had he asked each individually to accompany him, he could scarcely have 
found two dozen, much less two hundred; but, in the face of such deter- 
mined courage as he displayed, each man was ashamed to back out; and they 
encamped for the winter at the head of Appalachee Bay. From this point a 
message was dispatched to Cuba, directingthat supplies be sent thither early 
in the spring. The winter passed without event; and the spring brought 
the expected supplies. What is of more interest to us, now, is the letter 
which Donna Isabella M'rote to her husband at this time. She urged him to 
give up the effort to penetrate into, conquer and settle the country, if it 
must be accompanied by the same cruelties which similar efforts had been 
attended by elsewhere; she had probably heard for the first time, since her 
coming to Cuba, of the treatment which the natives usually met from the 
hands of her countrymen. "Not for all the riches of the country would I 
have you commit one act, the remembrance of which would be painful to you 
hereafter," wrote this devoted woman. De Soto probably shared, to no 
small extent, the humane feelings which made these actions seem so horri- 
ble to her; but he had become callous by long habit, and he had gone too 
far to retreat; to go back now, meant ruin. He who. had won such wealth 



430 nK SOTf). TIIK DISCOVERER OK TJIE MISSISMITI. 

and renown could not lu'ar the tlion<rlit of jroingljaik to poverty and obscur- 
ity. 

The}' left their winter quarters in March, 1540, and proceeded on their 
journey; the leader refusing to believe that the stories of the country's 
wealth were untrue, until ho had seen with his own eyes the poverty of its 
people. They were really on the way to the gold fields of Georgia, and at 
one time were assured by their guides that they would reach the land of gold 
• in four days; but for some reason they turned aside, and those mines re- 
mained undiscovered. 

The food with which they had been supplied by a friendly chief began to 
run low; and the path which they had followed through the forest failed 
them. Almost starving, they wandered through the trackless wilds, and, after 
enduring hardships that can scarcely be imagined, entered a more open and 
cultivated country. At last they came in sight of an Indian town, Cofachiqui. 
situated at the confluence of the Bnjad and Savannah Rivers. On the river 
bank they were met by a deputation of the principal men of the tribe, who 
crossed in canoes, and who, after many salutations which the Spaniards only 
partly understood, demanded to know if the strangers came in peace or in 
war. Do Soto rei)lied as usual that he wished to be at peace with the people, 
and desired to secure further supplies of provisions. The embassadors re- 
answered that their last crop had been so small that they scarcely had food 
for themselves; but that his request should be made known to the maiden 
who was their ruler. 

Unfavorable as it may seem, this answer greatly raised the spirits of the 
Spaniards; for it was one of the characteristics of the golden country of 
which they had been told, that its people were ruled by a young girl. When 
she visited their camp, a few hours later, her appearance confirmed their 
hopes; for she was richly adorned with ornaments of great value. She re- 
peated what her ministers had told them of the failure of the crop; })ut added 
that one of her two magazines of grain should be appropriated to the use of 
the strangers; and presented her necklace of valuable pearls to De Soto. 

The governor now showed himself a worthy disciple of Pizarro. Instead 
of treating this Indian princess as her generosity and her position among hi'r 
own people demanded, a strict guard was set upon her, while the temples and 
tombs of her people were sacked for such treasures as they might contain. 
In truth, the gallant and knightly De Soto had become so engrossed in the 
pursuit of wealth that he was ready to adopt any means of obtaining it. 

Ilis followers were anxious to turn back with the booty which they had se- 
cured; but convinced that there must be more beyond, he refused to do so. 
They proceeded on their journey, taking the unhappy princess a captive in 
their train, and compelling her to make her subjects furnish assistance of 
every kind, from the providing of food from the scanty stores to the carrying 



DE SOTO, THE DISC'OVERER OF THE MlSSISSirPI. 



431 



the baggage of the soldiers on their backs. A few days after setting out, 
however, she contrived to escape; and De Soto, at last ashamed of his treat- 
ment of her, would not permit her to be pursued. 




The F[r,TiT vr Moiui.k, 



Their treatment of the gigantic chief, Tuscaloosa, came near resulting 
in their own destruction. He had been invited, after their stay at his vil- 
lage, to accompany them; and a Spanish guard of honor given him. It was 
thought that he did not suspect himself to be a prisoner, they treated him with 
so much deference ; but he knew his real position as well as they. As they 
approached Mobile, a village then occupied by a chief who was tributary to 
him, he sent forward a messenger to order that a grand reception should be 
prepared for his friends the white men; sending at the same time a token 
which told more than the words of the message. 

The chief of Mobile lost no time in mustering his warriors for the rescue 
of Tuscaloosa. As the Spaniards approached the town, they were astonished 
at the strength of the fortifications, and not a little alarmed at the prepara- 



482 



DK SOTO, TIIK DISCOVEKER OK THE MISSISSIl'l" 



tions mailo for their reception. They were welcoiiietl with warmth, however, 
and Tuscaloo.sa, having shown the Spaniards to their <iuarter.s, excused him- 
self, having, as he said, some directions to give to his people. It was impos- 
sible, under the circumstances, to control his movements; but De Soto, hav- 
ing given orders that breakfast should be prepared for them— for they wore 
accustomed to eat at the same table— sent again and again to summon the 
chief to the meal. At last Gallcgos commanded his presence. 



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I)i: Sor(.)"s Kncami'Mknt in thk Fohkst. 

"What would these unmannerly people have with my chief?" was the angry 
demand of a warrior who heard the order; "Down with the villains! We 
can endure their insolence no longer!" 

(rallegos raised his cutlass, and with a single stroke cleft the Indian's skull. 
It was the signal for the fight to begin. The flint-headed arrows of the na- 
tives penetrated the joints of the armor which the Spaniards wore, and De 
Soto saw his men falling fast around him. To fight longer was imi)ossible; to 
retreat was to invite pursuit and massacre. Snatching an axe, and followed 



DE SOTO, THK DISCOVKKER OK THE MISSISSII'PI. i'd'6 

by a faithful few who understood hi.s purpose, he rushed toward the wooden 
walls of the town which defended the Indians from the fire of his men ; and 
by vigorous and desperate strokes made a breach wide enough for the admis- 
sion of his cavalry. The Indians retreated to the houses, to which the Span- 
iards set fire. Something of the horrors of the scene may be imagined from 
the single fact that more than a thousand women were burned to death. Tus- 
laloosa and a few of his faithful followers made a stand in the market-place, 
vhere not even the charge of the cavalry could disperse or put them to 
flight. Once De Soto and Tuscaloosa came face to face, and it seemed thiit 
the fight might be decided by a single combat between the chiefs. But his 
people loved the Indian chief, and were ready to defend him; again and 
again devoted warriors threw themselves between their chief and his mail- 
clad antagonist, and thus saved Tuscaloosa from the encounter with the 
knight. When at last tiiey met, Tuscaloosa raised his mighty wur-club for a 
deadly blow ; but lowered it harmlessly when he saw an arrow strike De Soto 
lietween the joints of his armor. De Soto concealed this wound, for fear of 
dispiriting his followers; and the fight continued with unabated fury. 

At last Tuscaloosa, seeing that the case was hopeless, rushed into a house, 
where he was almost instantly buried bythe falling timbers. Not an Indian 
escaped to tell the tale of the battle by which the Spaniards gained possession 
of the ruined town. 

About the middle of November they marched forward, having spent al- 
most a month in recruiting the strength of the wounded. Their encampment 
for the winter was probably at a point in the northern part of the present 
state of jMississippi, although the place cannot be more exactly identified. 
This was reached only with considerable difliculty, as the Indians disputed 
their advance, and every step was harassed by their hostility. 

Much of their baggage had been lost at the burning of Mavilla, or Mobile; 
the remainder was destroyed when the Chickasaws, in one of whose villages 
they had established themselves for the winter, chose to burn their homes in 
order to dislodge the hated invaders. Had they been as resolute as Tusca- 
loosa's warriors, they would have been successful in their attack upon the 
encampment, but they speedily withdrew into the forests. Here they re- 
mained for a week, which time the Spaniards employed in erecting forges, 
tempering swords, and fashioning lances; so that when the natives finally 
'ummoned up enough resolution to attack them again they were prepared 
for resistance. 

The fire in this Chickasaw village had destroyed what they had saved from 
the flames of IMavilla, and the force that marched northward in the 
spring of 1541, then, was a miserable remnant of a once gallant army, 
their gay doublets replaced by skins and mats of ivy. For seven days they 
struggled through a seemingly impenetrable forest; then, from the height on 



DE SOTO, THE DISCOVERER OF THE JllSSlSiSIPPl. 



435 



Avhioh stood an liidiau village, De Soto gazed upon that mighty yellow flood 
which sweeps down from the far North and from the equally far West the 
rich alluvium which has made its valley the garden spot of the western world; 
forthe firsttinieinthehistoryof the world, a white man beheld the Mississippi. 







His arrival awakening much curiosity 
among the Indians who lived on the west 
hank of the river, they came out in a great 
multitude, armed with bows and arrows, and gaudily painted, and crowned 
with nodding plumes, their chiefs sitting under the awnings of two hundred 
large canoes, and bringing gifts of food to the Spaniards. 

They encamped here for nearly a month, building boats on which to cross 
the river. The Indians at first appeared inclined to be hostile, but were evi- 
dently a little impressed by the numbers and arms of the white men. At 
length eight large scows were built, and in these the river was crossed. 

Their route lay toward the northwest, and they reached a point probably 
near the White Eiver, about two hundred miles west of the Mississippi. Their 
treatment by the Indians had at first been inspired by a reverential fear; they 
were called the Children of the Sun, and the blind were brought to the stran- 
gers, to be given their sight. 

"Pray only to God," the leader gravely told the savages, "for whatsoever 
you need." 



436 DE SOTO, THE DISCOVERER OB' THE MISSISSIPPI. 

Tlu'ir winter, however, was spent among those who regarded them with less 
awe; and, although we cannot get at the whole truth, since we have only the 
narrative of the Spanish historians, it is not improbable that they were more 
than once defeated by the Indians. It is quite certain that many Indian vil- 
lages were burned by order of De Soto during this winter. 

As the days grew shorter, hope grew less; and when the sun turned upon 
his path, and the days aga'n became longer, there was no change in their for- 
tunes. At last, even De Soto saw that there was nothing to be done l»ut that 
which his followers had so often urged him to do; sadly he gave the necessary 
orders for breaking camp in the spring; for the only course open to them 
was that over which they had come. The enterprise must be given up. 

If their forward march had been attended with difHcultics and dangers, 
what shall be said of their retreat? At one time, they si)ent eight days in the 
effort to penetrate the cane-brakes, and advanced but thirty miles. Re- 
membering the mistake which had been made by some of the Indians, De 
Soto said to a chief from whom he hoped to obtain assistance that he was 
descended from heaven. 

" Dry up the river, and I will believe that you are a child of the sun." an- 
swered the Indian, insolently; and he never forgave the attempt to deceive 
him. 

De Soto was in the midst of avast wilderness; more than half of his army 
had perished by disease, accident and the devastation of war; and nearly all 
who survived looked upon him as the author of all their sufferings. They 
had hoped to be cured of their diseases by drinking of tlie hot springs of Ar- 
kansas, whither the natives had directed them ; there,they thought, might be 
that Fountain of Youth which Ponce de Leon had sought, and perished in the 
seeking; but this hope, too, had been in vain. The behavior of the cacique 
on whom he had tried to practice the deception mentioned above, was insult- 
ing in the extreme, and two years before, his land would have been laid waste, 
his people murdered. But now, the proud Spaniard must submit to every 
effront — revenge or resentment could not be his. 

Nevertheless, many of the natives reverenced De Soto as something more 
than human; it was only when sickness overtook him that they saw that he 
was subject to like infirmities with themselves, and therefore of the same 
clay. Oppressed by sickness of body and heart at once, De Soto looked 
about him and saw that of all the remnant of his host, there was not one who 
could inspire the Indians with a wholesome fear. Worn out, he sank under 
tiie disease, and at last a monk of considerable medical skill, who had accom- 
panied the expedition, told him that there was no hope. With the courage 
of a truly brave man, he called his officers about him and Ijado them choose 
his successor; intrusted one of them with a message for Donna Isabella; and 
having thus set his house in order, aixl made his peace with Heaven, he 



DE SOTO, THE DISCOVERER OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 



437 



closed his eyes upou the weary wilderness which he had hoped to subdue. 

May 21, 1542, was the date of his death. His foilower.s concealed it from 
the Indians, and dug his grave secretly, by night, lest they should discover it. 
Announcing the next day that their leader was better, although not yet able 
to leave his tent, they instituted a kind of tournament, in rejoicing over his 
recovery; and rode backward and forward over the grave which had thus se- 
cretly received its tenant. 

But the searching questions of the Indians showed that they suspected the 
truth ; and fearful that the Indians would desecrate the grave of him who 
had caused the tombs of their j^eople to be rifled and defiled, the Spaniards 
exhumed the body of their leader, and wrapping it in a winding-sheet heav- 
ily weighted with lead, lowered it, at midnight, into the waters of the Mis- 
sissippi. 




Burial of 1»i-; hum. 



Thus died De Soto, and thus was lie burietl. Of his followers, but little 
more need be said. 

No longer led by the spirit that would press onward, no matter through 
what difliculties and dangers, the Spaniards resolved to proceed towardsNew 
Spain without delay. It was unanimously decided that a journey by land 
would be less dangerous than one by water, and they undertook to find awaj' 
to Mexico through the pathless forests. After wandering two hundred miles 
west of the river, they turned back in despair, and sought the banks of the 
Mississip2)i again. Here they devoted themselves to the construction of brig- 
antines, no easy matter for men in their condition, and, more than a year 
after De Soto's death, were ready for their voyage. Seventeen days after 
their departure, followed by the arrows and the hate of the Indians, they had 
traveled the five hundred miles to the mouth of the Mississippi, but thirty- 




438 



DE SOTO, THK lil.SCOVKIJKK OF THE AllSSlSSIPlM . 439 

thi'ee more had passed before they reached Panuco, a town on the coast of 
Mexico about two hundred and sixty miles from the boundary of the present 
state of Texas. Here they i-emained for a considerable length of time, 
quarreling among themselves so much that, after three hundred and elev- 
en of them had perished by each other's hands, the viceroy was compelled 
to interfere. 

What of Donna Isabella? The story is not complete till we have told what 
became of the heroine. For three years after the return of the ships she 
waited for news ; at first hopefully, then doubtfully, then despairingly. At 
last, some one came from Mexico who had seen the few survivors and heard 
their story; from him she learned what had been the fate of her husband; 
and three days afterward, she closed her eyes forever. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

,TACQUP>5 CARTIER, 11 IK DISCOVERER OF CANADA. 

St. Malo — Youtln)rCartier — Verazzauo's Voyage — The Fisheries — Cartier's First American 
Voyage — Sighting Newfuuiidhiud — The Mainland — Taking Possession — Protest of Natives — 
Donacona's P'riendship — His Sons Embark for France — Cartier Ascends tiie St. Lawrence — 
Returns Home — Tlie Second Voyage— At the ilouth of the St. Lawrence — An Indian Drama 
— Visits Hochelaga— Curing Diseases — Returns to Shi|)s — Fort Built — Tobacco and Scalps — 
Scurvy — Working and Praying — An Indian Remedy — Cartier Takes Possession of the Country 
Again — Donacoiia and his Sons Embark for France — .Vrrival at St. Malo — A Co(d Reception 
— Cartier's Third American Voyage — \ Colony .Vttempted— Failure — Cartier Returns to 
France — Roberval's Effort — After Years. 

N an island less tlian three miles in eircuniference, at the mouth of 
the Ranee River, in the modern tlepartment of llle-et-\ ilaine, wliicli 
is a part of the okl })rovince of Brittany, is an ohl fortified sea-port 
of France, St. -Malo. The place has its advantages for all that; it has an 
excellent harhor, large and well-sheltered; and is so defended by forts that 
it could scarcely be captured by an enemy. 

It is now, in commercial importance, the twelfth sea-))ort of France ; but 
there are more sailors registered there than at any other town, and those ad- 
vantages of which we have above spoken ga\e it great repute in the fifteenth, 
sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, when wars were of much more fre([uent 
occurrence than they are in the nineteenth; and when piracy was a thing 
of present and frequently recuiring danger. But these are not the circum- 
stances which commend St. Malo to our consideration; of more interest is 
the fact that, preserved in the public museum of the town, are portions of 
the ship which lirst bore Jacques Cartier to the shores of the New World : 
treasured there with a jealous care, because he was of Breton birth, and 
St. Malo was the port from which he sailed. 

He was born near the village of Limoilin, not far distant from the strait 
which separates the island town from the main land, in the year 1494. Like 
so many of the great navigators of his time, his youth is shrouded in ob- 
scurity; of his education we know nothing; but the i)eoj)le of all the sur- 
rounding country had the love of the sea born in them ; and it is f;\ir to 
suppose that young Cartier was no exception to the general rule. Accord- 
ing to the custom of the place, even his early boyhood was passed upon 
the sea; and he was a veteran sailor before the down shaded his lip.. 

In the chapter devoted to what we know of Henry Hudson, will be found 
(in account of the first American voyage of John Verazzano, an Italian navi- 
jrator in the service of King Francis I. of France. It is a curious circum- 

(440J 



CARTIER, DISCOVERER OF CANADA. 441 

Stance that the discoverer of the New AVorld, the discoverer of North 
America, and the first explorer of the Athintic coast of what is now the 
United States, should have been Italians in the employ of other governments 
than their own; and upon the discoveries of Columbus, Cabot, and Verazza- 
uo, the latter supplemented by those of Cartier, the nations of Spain, Eng- 
land and France should base their claims to the "World of the West. 

It is possible that Cartier accompanied Verazzano on this voyage of discov- 
ery; but he certainly did not make one of the number who went on that tra- 
ditionary voyage of the Italian, when captain and crew fell into the hands of 
the savages, and were killed and eaten. 

But Verazzano's discoveries were for a time neglected; for, during his 
absence, the King had been engaged in war with his great rival, the Emperor 
Charles V. Francis was defeated and taken prisoner in 1525 ; in his absence 
no new enterprise could be undertaken; when he was released he was intent 
upon other battles in which he might turn the tables upon his enemy. The 
discoveries on the American coast, however interesting they might be from a 
scientific point of view, brought no money into the royal treasury; and 
money has always been esteemed " the sinews of war." It is easy to see, 
then, that the Government — that is, the King — would not care to advance the 
interests of discovery in the New World. 

But Verazzano had brought home news that there were vast shoals of fish 
frequenting the waters around the northern part of the coasts which he had 
explored. This was quite a different matter from the advancement of geo- 
graphical knowledge; it meant flourishing business relations; and business 
men at once began to look after their interests. It was decided that settle- 
ments near the fishing-banks would be advantageous; and Chabot, who was 
Admiral of France at the time, and a favored counselor of the King, advised 
that such settlements should be made as soon as possible. 

It is probable that Cartier had been with Verazzano, because he was at once 
chosen as the leader of the expedition which was to be fitted out ; although 
he may have been a favorite of Chabot's for some other reason. Certainly 
he was an experienced and skillful seaman when he was commissioned to ex- 
plore the country and find a place for a. colony. 

April 20, 1534, he sailed from St. Malo with two ships and one hundred 
and twenty-two men. On the 10th of May he came in sight of the coast of 
Newfoundland; but it was so blocked up with ice that he found it impossible 
to land without greatly endangering his vessels. He accordingly stood out to 
sea again, and, steering southward, entered a harbor which he called St. Cath- 
erine's. Here, while waiting for fair and warmer weather, he fitted his boats 
for voyages close in shore and up the river. 

Proceeding northward as soon as the weather permitted, he explored the 
harbors and islands of the coast of Newfoundland : naming Bird Island from 



442 



CAKTIKH, DISSC'OVKKKK OK fA.NADA. 



the circumstance that he and hi.s crews hmded here and .shot a great number 
of birds which were befrinningto nest. They ate all that they could, and salted 
and pack CI I ti' ■ i w rh r li.nrrl- 1,,-i.lr- fur fiilui-c use. 




("AiniKit Enii 1 



\\ ItENCE RiVEH. 



Skirting the coast of the great island he came to the Strait of liellelsle and 
continuc^d his voyage along the coast of Labrador, giving his own name to a 
sound which he ('uthusiastically declared afforded the best harbor in the world, 
though, he added, the country about it was the land to which Cain had been 
banished for killing his brother. Whether the eldest son of -Vdaniwas the first 
inhabitant or not, it was certain that the counti-y was now peopled by a wan- 
dering tribe, whose chief occupation seemed to be catching seals. 

The inhospitable coast of Labrador afforded no promise of a suitable situ- 
ation for the colony which France desired to establish, and Cartier turneti 
southward; and, crossing the (Julf of St. Lawrence, anchored in a ])ay where 
■ the warmth of the waters and air Avas sucdi, after his late experience of the 
cold currents of air and water along the coast of Labrador, that he named it 
the Bay deChaleurs — the Bay of Heat. Here he found wild berries and roseu 
in abundance, meadows clothed with grass, and plenty of salmon, — a confir- 
mation of the experience of one explorer, who states that he found salmon in 
various rvers, but whose experience is not upheld by that of modeiii tishermen. 



CARTIER, DISt^OVKREU OV CANADA. 443 

Proceeding eastwardly along the coast as far as Gaspe, he was detained for 
twelve days by a terrible storm, during which he durst not risk voyaging 
along these unknown shores. Here he took formal possession of the countr3', 
in the name of his patron ; causing a cross thirty feet high to be erected on a 
suitable point of land, bearing a shield on which were engraved the royal 
arms of France and the legend : Vive Ic Boy de France! 

When this had been prepared, Cartier and his followers kneeled reverently 
before it, and with heads uncovered, hands extended, and eyes lifted to heaven, 
solemnly invoked the divine blessing upon the right so asserted, and protec- 
tion against all rival powers. The natives gathered around them in silent 
admiration for a time, doubtless wondering what it was all about; but as the 
meaning began to dawn upon them, an old man, dressed in a bearskin robe, 
vehemently protested by signs, against the strangers assuming any authority 
or ownership over the land of which he was the chief. With the duplicity 
which has so often marked the white man's dealings with the Indians, and 
which we have no wish to excuse, Cartier assured the chief that the cross was 
intended only as a mark of direction, for his guidance when he should return 
the next .year; and promised to come with gifts of all manner of articles niaile 
of iron, for the chief and his followers. 

The chief, whose name was Donacona, allowed himself to be misled by these 
representations, and entered into the most friendly relations with the stran- 
gers. Cartier invited him and a number of his followers onboard the ships, 
and entertained them with the most flattering hospitality; sending them away 
loaded with presents of the trinkets which the untutored mind of the savage 
valued so highly. These visits were frequently repeated, and Cartier returned 
them, a fact which was hardly less flattering than being so well received on 
board the vessels. Having thus won the favor of the chief, Cartier begged 
that Donacona's two sons, stalwart young warriors, should be permitted to 
go to France with him, to return the next year. Permission was granted, and 
the two young men, full of the gayest anticipations, embarked. 

Leaving the Bay of Chaleurs, Cartier sailed into the St. Lawrence River 
until he could see land on both sides his vessels. Here was another disap- 
pointment; like many another European of his time, he greatly underestim- 
ated the width of the American continent, and fully expected to find some 
sort of easy passage by which he could enter the Pacific Ocean. Such a pas- 
sage he had expected to discover when he entered the Bay of Chaleurs, at- 
tributing the warmth of the air and water to the influence of the South Sea ; 
but further exploration of that inlet convinced him that this was a mistake. 
The St. Lawrence had brought renewed hope; but as the land closed up.m 
him, and he perceived that the water, removed from the influence of the tides, 
was fresh, he knew that it was no use to ascend this river any further. The 
summer was rapidly passing away, and the weather was becoming boisterous; 



444 



CAUTIKK. UISCOVKKKK OK <A.\AI>A. 



he accordingly judged that to make any oUiei- attempts at exploration would 
lead into danger of being locked in by the iee all winter; and, to escape this, 
determined to return to Franceatonce. He coasted a part of Newfoundland 
again, and theji, spreading his sails, stood boldly out to sea, and steered 
straight for France. 




Doxacoxa's Sons. 

Arriving at St. Malo September 5, 1534, he was received with much favor, 
not unaccompanied by curiosity, by those in authority. The war was now 
taking a turn a little more favorable to France; and the King felt better able 
to spend more in fitting out an expedition for the exploration of this new 
country, with a view to colonizing it and drawing a revenue from its fisheries. 
Three ships were fitted out, of one hundred and twenty, sixty, and fortj' tons' 
burden, respectivelj", and many young men of high family distinction embarked 



CARTIER, DISCOVERER OF CANADA. 445 

their fortunes in the enterprise, of which Cartier, of course, was the leader. 
On Whitsunday of the year 1535, they went in solemn procession to church, 
as a preparation for their long voyage; and May 9, they sailed from St. Malo. 

They were scarcely out of sight of laud before the ships were scattered by 
a storm. Fortunately, Cartier had taken the precaution to appoint a rendez- 
vous for such a case, at Bird Island ; and there was at least one skillful navi- 
gator who had sailed with him on his first voyage on each of the three vessels, 
who could direct the course to that point. 

He pursued much the same course as before, and entering the Gulf of St. 
Lawrence, bestowed that name upon it. He then ascended the great river as 
far as the mouth of the Saguenay, when he determined to explore thoroughly 
the northern coast of the gulf. 

Going ashore, he saw with some concern that the natives fled at his ap- 
proach; for he wished very much to enter into treaties with them, to secure 
their opinions as to the most favorable location for a settlement, and their 
friendly feelings toward such a settlement when it should be established. It 
was now that he felt the advantage of having taken the two sons of Dona- 
cona to France, and treated them with such consideration as to make them 
firm allies. They spoke to their frightened countrymen, and reassured them; 
and the Indians, to show their friendly disposition, came to the white men 
with presents of eels and other fish, and corn in ears. 

Cartier made suitable acknowledgments of their protests of good feeling, 
and returned their presents with others of European manufacture. It was 
while they were thus engaged that they were visited by the Chief Donacona, 
who came with twelve boat-loads of attendants; ten of these, however, he 
considerately left at a distance, while he, in one boat, with a few warriors in 
another canoe, approached the ships. He welcomed the French most cor- 
dially; and listened with interest as his two sons told what they had seen in 
France. He then approached Cartier, kissed his hand with affection, and laid 
his arm about the Frenchman's neck, in token of gratitude for such kind 
treatment of his sons. 

Cartier was now anxious to find a harbor for his ships; for the season 
during which exploration was possible would soon be ended. He accordingly 
(■omnuinicated his wishes to the Indians, who replied by an entertainment 
which partook somewhat of the character of a theatrical performance. The 
rude drama may be briefly described as follows: — 

Three men, selected for the purpose by Donacona, attired themselves gro- 
tesquely in black and white skins, stained their faces black, and ai-ranged 
horns upon their heads. It was very plain to the Frenchmen that these were 
to act the part of demons. Entering a canoe, these actors passed the ships, 
returning again and again to row around them, constantly haranguing the 
whites, although the latter, of course, were unable to understand what they 



446 CAKTIKK, DISCOVERER OK CANADA. 

were .saying. Pursued by Donacona and his people, they were forced to land ; 
upon touching the ground, they fell down, as if dead, and were carried away 
by the chief's attendants. When they had reached the point selected, there 
ensued a dialogue, the substance of which had evidently been arranged before- 
hand. In this scene, the demons informed their listeners that they were the 
attendants of the god of Hockclaga — the capital of the country, as Cartier 
had already learned from the Indians — and that he did not wish the white 
men to come to see him; for the country was full of ice and snow, and should 
they try to reach his dwelling, they would perish miserably -with the cold. 

It was intended that this should be a sutficient warning for the white men : 
but, like many others who listen with anmsement to what is designed for their 
instruction, they enjoyed the representation, and disregarded the advice which 
was given. Cartier caused a pinnace and two boats to be made ready, and 
September 19, began his voyage up the river. 

The water was low at that season of the year, so that it would have been 
impossible for him to have advanced to any considerable distance with even 
the smallest of his ships; with the smaller boats, however, he anticipated no 
difBculties; and might, indeed, had no lack of time or provisions prevented, 
have reached the head of navigation. October 2, ho arrived at the island 
which the natives called Ilockelaga, situated opposite the mouth of a smaller 
river, tributary to the mighty stream which he was ascending. 

Ilis coming had been announced by runners, sent by Donacona; and a 
thousand Indians came to meet him, bringing presents of fish and the other 
products of the country. Cartier had provided himself with an ample sup- 
pl}' of trinkets, chiefly beads and knives, since these were the articles of Euro- 
pean manufacture most valued by the Indians; and the exchange of com- 
pliments and presents went on at a lively rate. 

At night, the French sought the shelter of their boats; while the natives 
amused themselves and their guests, thus seated afar off, by their outlandish 
dances. Gradually, however, they i-eached the town on the island ; Cartier 
and twenty-five of his men landed, and were received, together with this na- 
tive escort which had met them down the river, with great honor. 

The chief came in person to meet them, although he was badly crippled 
by the palsy. The French soon found that they were regarded as heavenly 
visitants, and possessed of more than mortal powers. The Indians seemed 
to think that one power, particularly, was possessed by these strangers; they 
could cure diseases by the simple process of touching those affected. This 
did not seem so strange a belief to the French, for many Europeans of that 
day believed that such powers were possessed by certain persons; and, long 
after the death of Cartier, it was thought that the King of England, whoever 
he might be, was able to cure scrofula, called " the king's evil," from that 
very circumstance, by simply touching the person affected. 



CARTIKK, DISCOVKKKR OF CANADA. 



447 



lu accordance with this belief on the part of the Indians, the visitors were 
besought to touch the bodies of the crippled chief and the sick members of 
his tribe. Cartier assented; and, repeating some parts of the service in the 
prayer-book, laid his hands on the chief, and then raised them in suppli('a- 
tion. His action seemed to impress the spectators very favorably, for he 
soon found many imitators among them. 

He caused his drums and trumpets to sound, which still further delighted 
the natives; and they fell to dancing to this strange new music. Like the 
others with whom they came in contact, these Indians brought him such 
presents as they could, and received in return the various articles used by 
explorers for gifts to savage races. 




Plan of Hockelaga Fort. 
{From an Old Engraving.) 
From these Indians, Cartier learned that gold and silver were to be found 
in a country to the southwest. These metals were recognized by them, when 
they saw the arms which the French carried decorated with the more valua- 
ble minerals. They also informed hini that copper was to be found in large 
quantities near a great inland sea of fresh water, which lay almost directly 
west. The country where gold and silver were found, they told him, was a 
fertile, pleasant land, free from ice and snow. These statements show that 



448 CARTIKK, DISCOVKKKIi OK CANADA. 

the Indians of Ilockclaga were fairly well acquainted with the {ieo{jrai)hy of 
North America for a coiKsiderable portion of its extent. 

Their town was built on the flat coast of the island, just under the shelter 
of a hill; and this elevation Cartier dignified with the name of the Ilojal 
Mount — Montreal — a name which it still bears and has given to the city of 
white men which has succeeded the Indian village. It was from the summit 
of this hill that Cartier saw the course of the broad winding river, and stood 
by the Indians who pointed out the direction in which lay the mines of silver, 
gold and cojjper. 

Only two days were spent at Hockelaga, and on the 4th of October he again 
descended the river. He reached his ships a week later, and found that (lie 
men left in charge had occupied themselves in building a rampart and palis- 
ade, near where the ships were anchored, in such a way as most effectually to 
protect the vessels from an attack by land, should the savages, for any reason, 
become hostile. 

Donacona was frequently entertained by them, and invited them to visit 
him, when he amply repaid the hospitality which had been shown to him. 
One habit of the Indians, however, was very offensive to the Frenchmen; 
they had a sort of bowl, made of a corn-cob sometimes, or sometimes fashioned 
of burnt clay, which they fastened on the end of a hollow reed. In this they 
placed the dried leaves of a certain plant, and lighting them, seemed to de- 
rive much enjoyment from inhaling the smoke of the burning weed. The 
French could not imagine what pleasure the Indians could find in this prac- 
tice; perhaps their decendants can understand it better. 

It was at this time that they become acquainted with another practice of 
the Indians, far less innocent than that of using tobacco. They saw in the 
wigwams certain bits of skin, having hair attached; and perccivingthat these 
were treasured articles, and that the greatest and most respected warriors 
appeared to possess the largest numbers, nuide inquiry concerning them ; and 
received in return a description of the process of scalping, as practiced against 
the fallen foe. 

Asthc autumn wore on, scturvy, that dreadful disease of the era l)efore can- 
ned vegetables, made its appearance among the Indians; and shortly after- 
ward it was found that the same diet which caused it among the natives had 
produced it among the newcomers. It raged for two months, or from the 
middle of January to the middle of February. At one time out of one hun- 
dred and ten men, fifty were sick; and eight or ten died before it abated. 

Knowing no remedy for the disease, Cartier appointed a day of solemn 
humiliation and prayer. A crucifix was placed upon a tree, and all who weic in 
any way able to walk joined in solemn procession, singing the seven peniten- 
tial psalms, and engaging in other religious ceremonies; hoping l)y this pil- 
grimage through the ice and snow to avert the wrath of Heaven, thus maui- 



CARTIER, DISCOVERER OF CANADA. 



44 n 



festcd by sending disease upon them. At the same time, Cartier vowed to 
make a pilgrimage to a certain shrine as soon as he should return to France. 
It is rehvted of a certain Prime Minister of England, that when a deputa- 
tion called upon him to ask him to appoint a day of fasting and prayer be- 
cause of the sickness which had recently visited their town, he advised them, 
instead of praying, to sjoend their time in improving the sewerage. The vv- 
ply offended them very much; and the statesman was severely criticised for 
his irreverence. Cartier, however, was of different mould ; he was deterni- 
inetl to work as well as pray. 




I 



r^u-m-r s All N Pin^rrsr to Wintfr at Orleans Isiand 



Confident that exercise would do much to relieve the complaint from which 
they were suffering, and fearing lest the Indians, suspecting the weakness of 
his force, should be tempted to attack him, he informed the natives that his 
men were all very busy inside the inclosure and upon the ships; and that no 
one of them would be permitted to go outside until the work was done. In the 
meantime, he set the men who were well, or comparatively so, to hammering 
and chopping, that the noise which they made might deceive the Indians, and 
give color to his words. Whenever the Indians came near the inclosed space 
especially, the hammering and sawing was redoubled. 

Their help was to come, however, from these very Indians whom they 
sought to deceive; for their prayers were answered, not by any miracle, but 
in the common, every-day manner which we are apt to ignore as an answer. 



k 



450 CARTIKK, DISCOVKRER OF CANADA. 

Cartier, who had wholly esca|)e<l the disease, was walking in tiie woods 
one day, when lie mot one of the young Indians who had accompanied him to 
France. The savage, he knew, had suffered severely from tlie scurvy during 
the early part of the winter, and Cartier was surprised to tind himt-till alive; 
much more, to see him well and strong. The wiiite man dcmand(>d to know 
how he had been cured; the Indian replied that there was a certain tree, 
known to his tribe, the leaves and bark of which were good for this purpose. 

Interested at once, Cartier remarked that one of his men had had the dis- 
ease, and ho would like to know a cure for it. Th(^y turned and went toward 
the Indian village, at the invitation of the young chief, and two women were 
sent to procure a quantity of the leaves and bark. As soon as they returned, 
the white man was instructed in the art of preparing and using it; and de- 
parted, hai)py at having obtained a remedy for the disease from wliich so 
many of his followers were suffering. 

The tree which was thus recommended as affording a cure was certainly an 
evergreen, since its leaves formed a part of a remedy used in winter; and 
modern scientists have agreed that the spruce-pine possesses qualities which 
would fit it for this purpose. Whatever it was, it effected a cure of the 
dreadful disease, although not before twenty-five men had died of it. 

At last the long, hard winter showed signs of breaking up. The ships had 
been frozen up from the middle of November until the middle of March; 
and upon a level, where it had not drifted, there was snow four feet deep. 
Early in INIay, Cartier took formal possession of the country, erecting a cross 
thirty-six feet high, bearing a shield with the royal arms, and an inscription 
in Latin: Francisais Primus, Dei Gratia Francorum, Hex liegnat — "Fran- 
cis First, by the Grace of God King of the French, Reigns." 

This ceremony took place May 3 ; and, after the cross had been erected, Car- 
tier entertained Donacona and his two sons, with a number of his other follow- 
ers, on board siiip with suitable festivities. Here the chief and his sons were 
urged to go to France witii Cartier, who had made all prci)arations to sail in 
a few days. They hesitated somewhat, but were partly persuaded, partly com- 
pelled, to assent to the wish of the M'hite men. When this decision was com- 
municated to their families, the grief of the Indians who remained behind 
was even more touching than the reluctance of the others to leave them. 
Cartierpromisedthemfaithfully that they should return within twelvemonths, 
and bade them remember how he had kept his agreement in regard to bring- 
ing back the two younger men. Partly from these arguments, partly from 
their natural aversion to giving vent to their feelings before others, the In- 
dians soon suppressed all evidence of grief, and departed stoically calm. 

The little fleet sailed May 6, and arrived at St. Malo just two months later. 
The authorities were somewhat disappointed at the result of this voyage. 
There was no evidence that Cartier was instructed to do more than to find a 



CAKTIEB, DISCOVKREK OF CANADA. 451 

suitable location for a colony, and complete such treaties with the Indians as 
might be necessary or desirable before attempting a settlement; but the news 
of the splendid booty secured by Pizarro and Cortes had made all other na- 
tions envious of Spain and desirous of finding some other portion of the con- 
tinent which would afford as rich a field for conquest as Mexico or Peru. So, 
because Carticr did not bring with him gold or silver, he was not regarded 
with as much favor as if he had secured ever so little of the precious metals. 
That he had a I'ich cargo of furs, obtained by trading with the Indians, coun- 
ted for but little ; nor did the French of that time realize what a great source 
of wealth would be found in the fur trade. 

It was for this reason that Cartier did not meet with any recognition for 
some time, and the subject of settlement in New France was dropped. How 
he occupied himself during the four years after his return, we do not know. 
The sole record that we have of any of the company is that concerning the 
three Indians, whom he promised, and intended, to return to their counti-y 
within a year from the time that he sailed away. These were all baptized, 
having made profession of the Christian faith; and their conversion was es- 
teemed a great triumph of the Church. But the wild children of the forest 
pined in the distant land where all were strangers to them, and died there 
within the period of four or five years. 

In 1540, or 1541 according to some authorities, the war between the King 
and Emperor having been laid aside for a time, there was some leisure and 
money for other things. The question of a settlement in New France was 
again considered; Chabot was still Admiral of France, and enthusiastic as 
ever over the successes achieved by his friend and protege. Monsieur Jacques 
Cartier. But the bluff sailor, whatever might be his capability as a seaman 
or his fame as a discoverer and explorer, was no fit representative of the dig- 
nity of the Crown of France; that must be a duty assigned to a nobleman of 
high rank. 

Accordingly, when it was finally resolved to send out a colony, Francis de 
la Roche, Sieur de Roberval, was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Canada 
and Hockelaga, with many a high-sounding title besides ; and plain Jacques 
Cartier, who had braved many dangers and hardships, and knew the country 
as no other living white man knew it, but who had not had the good foi-tune 
to be of noble birth, was named pilot of the fleet. Five ships were prepared 
for the voyage. 

For some reason, the figurehead of the expedition was not ready to sail at 
the appointed time ; and Cartier, with the five ships, left St. Malo May 23, 
1540, according to Hakluyt; 1541, according to some other authorities. He 
encountered strong adverse winds, which so scattered his fleet that they did 
not reunite for some time; but at length all arrived safely at that harbor 
which, on his first voyage, he had named St. Croix. This was August 23. 



-l."):: 



CAKTIKK, DISCONKKKU OK CANADA. 



As soon as the natives discovered the presence of the vessels, tlicy came lo 
inquire after their chief and his two sons, who had been gone for several 
years beyond the time when their return was expected. Carticr feared the 
result of telling thcni that all three were dead; and informed them that Do- 
nacona was dead, but that his two sons had married French ladies, and were 
now great lords in France, refusing to return to their old wild forist life. 




Cartier at the St. Charles Rn'ER, near Qiebec. 
How great was the mistrust which these assertions produced in the minds 
of the Indians, we shall never know; but it is certain that the statements 
were not received with favor. The Indians were evidently suspicious of the 
man who had carried away three of their number, and who, although he had 
prf)misod so faithfully to bring them back at the appointed time, had failed 
to bring them at all. The colony founded under such circumstances did not 
prosper as it might have done had the natives proved friendly as before. 



CARTIKR, DISCOVERER OP CANADA. 453 

It was nearly a year after the departure of Cartier witli his vessel before 
M. de Roberval was ready to leave France. He sailed from liochelle April 
16, 1542, with three ships and two hundred colonists. On entering tlie har- 
bor of St. John he espied three ships entering the same harbor; what was 
his surprise to find that they were commanded by Cartier, and held all the 
survivors of those who had left St. Malo the preceding May! He angrily or- 
dered Cartier to return to Canada with him; but the pilot had had quite 
enough of colonizing, and so had all his followers; he escaped from the har- 
bor under cover of night, and sailed to France. 

Roberval, finding his lieutenant had thus deserted him, continued his jour- 
ney and landed before Cape Rouge. Here he caused his followers to build 
an immense structure, half barrack, half castle; large enough to accommo- 
date under one roof all the workmen of his colony. But the settlement was 
far from being a prosperous one. Like Cartier's men during the winter 
spent in Canada, they suffered much from disease. Then their stock of pro- 
visions ran low and famine set in. While enduring these hardships the rule 
of the governor was not in the least relaxed. A man was hanged for a petty 
theft; quarrelsome men and scolding women were punished at the whipping- 
post; "by which means," says the quaint old chronicle, "they lived in 
peace." 

But order procured by such severe means was not durable; society thus 
governed is liable at any moment to a revolt which will overturn all govern- 
ment. Roberval's settlement was only saved from such a fate by the arrival 
of Cartier, who had been sent to bring the governor and his followers home; 
because the King had use for the noble Sieur de Roberval in France. Thus 
ended the first colony in New France. For half a century there was no 
further attempt to settle it made by the French. 

Cartier does not seem to have incurred any disgrace by having deserted 
Roberval before that official arrived in Canada; on the contrary, his various 
services to the Crown were rewarded by a grant of the title and privileges of 
Sieur de Limoilin, his native village. He made no more voyages after that 
fourth one across the Atlantic, but settled down to the enjoyment of his new 
dignity. 

How long after this he lived, is not certain; for there is no record which 
gives us the date of his death. All that we know is that he was alive in 
1552; but as he was then but fifty-eight years old, we cannot suppose that 
the hearty, bluff sailor was then enfeebled by the approach of age. 



CHAPTER XV. 

JUAJSr FERNANDEZ, THE DISCX^VERER (JF ROBINSON CRUSOE'S 

ISLAND. 

Settlement of Chili — Difliculty of Southward Voyage — Expedient of Fernandez — Accused 
before the Inquisition — Discovers the Island of Juan Fernandez — Settles on Islands — Returns 
to Mainland — Other Discoveries — Discovery of Southern Land — A Mystery and some Expla- 
nations — Superstitious Regarding the Pacific — Alexander Selkirk — Robinson Crusoe. 

fN the chapter devoted to Pizarro, the discoverer and conqueror of Peru, 
will be found a brief account of Alniagro's appointment to the govern- 
ment of Chili. Before his time the country had been conquered by 
the Incas; but of course, on the overthrow of the power of Atahualpa, 
Pizarro having failed to assert his dominion over them, the Chilians, or 
Araucanians, as they were called, regained their independence. Ahnagro 
met with such determined resistance that he found it best to go back to 
Peru; and here he became involved in the civil wars which cost his own 
life and that of Pizarro. 

But before the latter event, Don Pedro de Valdivia was dispatched to 
take possession of this country, and establish a colony there, in accordance 
with the GoveriuM-'s plan of colonizing the whole coast ; and Pizarro was 
preparing to follow him with a larger force when Almagro's followers, the 
men of Chili, as they were still called, entered his palace and murdered 
him. Valdivia, although this aid had not reached him, founded the city of 
Santiago, and later, the town bearing his own name; and governed Peru 
for twelve years. 

There was constant intercourse between Peru and Brazil, much of it by 
sea. But voyages southward were not so easily performed as they would 
have been were it not that the winds near the coast blow constantly from 
the south. For many years the mariners of Peru and Chili contended 
with this difficulty, without finding any means of evading it. 

Among the most skillful pilots engaged in this traffic, was Juan Fernan- 
dez. We have no record of his early history ; but it is probable that he 
was a son of that Juan Fernandez who had been a follower, first of Pizarro, 
then of Alvarado, then of Pizarro again ; and had been honored by the latter 
with the command of a vessel. This elder Spanish mariner of this name 
had been one of the leaders of an expedition of the Spanish government 
against the Island of Trinidad ; tempted by the rumors of gold to be ob- 
tained, they had, instead of obeying orders, landed on the main land, where 
incredible hardships were endured by all, and Fernandez and his companion 
in the leadership died before the winter was over. This was in 1538. 

(454) 



FERNANDEZ, THE DISCOVERER OF ROBINSON CRUSOE'S ISLAND. 455 

Twenty-five years afterward, the younger Juan Fernandez, having a consid- 
erable experience as a pilot between Peru and Chili, and having frequently 
been delayed by the contrary winds, began to consider some path by which 
Chili might be reached without encountering this trouble. He was not ac- 
quainted with the Pacific Ocean except along the western coast of South 
America, and knew nothing, either from his own experience or from the 
teachings of science, about the currents of wind and water elsewhere; but it 
seemed to him worth while to try the experiment of putting to sea before 
steering southward. 

To the ignorant and narrow-minded men of that day, the man who accom- 
plished anything more than others could do was an object of some suspicion; 
the first printers were accused of deriving assistance from the devil, because 
they multiplied books so rapidly; and it was so in the case of Juan Fernandez. 
He made the voyage from Peru to Chili, by adoptiugthe plan outlined above, 
in such a wonderfully short time that his rivals concluded there could be but 
one explanation : he had sold himself to the devil — is not he called the Prince 
of the Power of the Air? — and by his assistance had been enabled to sail in 
the very teeth of the wind. The accusation was formally made, and Fernan- 
dez was actually brought to trial. At first, he seems to have wished to keep 
his secret; for there were business rivalries in the sixteenth century as well 
as now, and the pilot who could bring a ship into port in advance of others 
was a notable man in his line of life; but this prosecution brought out the 
truth; he was obliged to disclose to his rivals the secret of his success. Per- 
haps they kept him in prison while a vessel was sent to make trial of it; cer- 
tainly it was something unusual for a man accused of such a deed to be 
cleared. 

Either in this first voyage out of the beaten track or in one made shortly 
afterward, he came in sight of a mass of precipitous rocks, rudely piled into 
irregular blocks and pinnacles, and rising abruptly out of the waters. His 
observations told him that this was about four hundred miles west of the 
coast of Chili, and very nearly in the latitude of Santiago. He named this 
island Mas-a-Tierra, and the neighboring one, nine miles farther west, Mas- 
a-Fuera, the names meaning, respectively, "Nearer the Land," and "Nearer 
the Sea." 

Fernandez petitioned the Spanish Government to grant him the islands 
which he had discovered, and his request was not, according to the best au- 
thorities, refused. As the larger body of land is only thirteen miles long by 
four miles wide, his request was a modest one. He settled there, thinking 
that he would devote himself to the quiet and pleasant life of a farmer; and 
imported stock of various kinds. Of these animals, however, only the goats 
seem to have prospered. 

But however pleasing some men may find it to be " monarchs of all they 



FERNANDEZ, THE DISCOVERER OF ROBINSON CRUSOE's ISLAND. 4;')7 

survey,"' when the all is a little island far out of sight of land, the quiet 
shore-life did not suit the roving nature of the seaman; and the attempted 
settlement was abandoned by him. He again engaged in his old work as pilot 
of a vessel along the western coast of South America. 

While some writers fix the date of the discovery of these islands as early 
as 1563, others place it nine years later. The truth is probably that they 
were discovered in the earlier year, but that the attempt to settlethem lasted 
for several years. When Fernandez finally returned to the continent, his 
coming would awaken some interest in the place, practically unknown to 
others, where he had been living; and ^'t-s it would be said that he then dis- 
covered these islands. 

Two years after his return, ho made a voyage between the two countries in 
which, as was now usual, he stood out to sea before proceeding southward; 
and discovered two other islands, to which he gave the names of St. Felix 
and St. Ambrose. Mas-a-Tierra and Mas-a-Fuera had now become better 
known by his own name, although, properly speaking, it is Mas-a-Tierra which 
is the Island of Juan Fernandez. 

At some time after the settlement on the islands was abandoned, there 
seems to have been another effort to colonize it; but the settlers found that 
the goats left there by Fernandez had multiplied to such an extent as to make 
the island incapable of producing anything beyond their food. A number of 
dogs were accordingly placed there, in the hopes that they would exterminate 
the goats, or at least greatly decrease their numbers; but this did not prove 
completely successful; for the descendants of those very goats still roam the 
island to-day. 

In 1576 Fernandez made still another voyage of historical interest. As all 
that is known of this voyage is contained in a document usually called the 
"Memorial of Arias," the date of which is sometime after 1709, we intro- 
duce here the portion of this authority relating to Juan Fernandez; using the 
translation of Alexander Dalrymple: — 

"A pilot named Juan Fernandez, who discovered the track from Lima to 
Chili by going to the westward — which till then had been made with much 
difficulty, as they kept alongshore where the southerly winds almost con- 
stantly prevail — sailing from the coast of Chili about the latitude of forty 
degrees, a little more or less, in a small ship with some of his companions, 
in courses between west and southwest, came in two months' time to a coast 
which he judged to be that of a continent, of a climate most agreeable, in- 
habited with white people, mighty well disposed, clothed with very fine 
clothes, and so peaceable and civil that in every manner they could express 
they offered everything in their power, and of the riches and fruits of the 
country, which appeared very rich and plentiful. But, being overjoyed to 
have discovered the coast of that great continent, so much desired, he re- 



458 I'ERXANDKZ, THE DISCOVEREK OF ROBINSON CKLSOE 8 ISLAND. 

turned to Chili, intending; to go buck properly fitted; and to keep it a secret 
until they and their friends could return on tiic discovery. It was delayed 
from day to day, until Juan Fernandez died, when with his death this matter, 
so important, sank into oblivion. 

"In regard to this, it must be observed that many have related this dis- 
covery of Juan Fernandez in the following manner, atlirming that they had it 
thus from himself, viz.: That going to the westward from Lima to discover 
the track to Chili, seeking times for it, and getting off shore — where almost 
always the winds are from the south — a certain space of longitude, which he 
wouldat a proper time declare, and then standing south, with little deviation 
to the adjoining points, he discovered the said coast of the Southern Conti- 
nent in the latitude which he would also tell when expedient, from whence 
he made his voyage to Chili. 

"Other relations, much worthy of belief, place this discovery as before re- 
lated; but whether it happened in this or the other manner, or two different 
discoveries, it is a thing most certain that he did discover the coast of the 
Southern Land; for so it has been testitied by persons of much credit and 
authority, to whom the said Juan Fernandez communicated the account, with 
the above-mentioned circumstances of the country and people which he dis- 
covered; and one of these witnesses, whom I can here mention to Your Ma- 
jesty, was Maesse de Campo de Cordes, a man extremely worthy of credit, as 
is known, and he has been employed in Chili near sixty years, who heard it 
from the said pilot, and saw the description he brought of the said coast. 

" On this coast Juan Fernandez saw the mouths of very many large rivers, 
from whence, and from what the natives intimated, because they were 
people so white, so well-clad, and in everything so ditferent from those of 
Chili and Peru, he concluded it certainly was the coast of the Southern Con- 
tinent, which appeared much better and richer than that of Peru." 

It is unfortuate for historical geography that Fernandez did not leave some 
memorandum of the latitude and longitude of the coast which he claimed to 
have discovered, that his statements might have been verified. The direction 
he took, and the time that is said to have been taken for the voyage, would 
point to New Zealand or Australia; but there the probability of its having 
been one of these bodies of laud ends. But where, the reader asks, is there 
another island that answers the description? There is no other. No other 
navigator has ever found, on an island south of the equator, a race of people, 
white in color, and more civilized than the people of Peru ; to whom the in- 
habitants of these lands were especially compared by Fernandez, thoroughly 
familiar with the history of the Incas and their successors. 

There is but one island of the South Pacific which gives any traces of such 
a civilization — Easter Island, called by the old navigators Davis' Land. But 
this would not require two months' time to reach it; it could not be mistaken 



FERNANDEZ, THE DISCOVERER OF ROBINSON CRUSOE S ISLAND. 



459 



for a continent by any moderately careful observer, if any time was spent on 
its coast; and although the people who produced the strange sculptures 
there found may have been in possession toward the latter part of the six- 
teenth century, a very few years after Fernandez reached it saw it in the pos- 
session of a much lower race of savages, who regarded the relics of former 
civilization with but little reverence. 




Nati\'es of Easi'er Island. 



There are two other explanations which may be offered of the statements 
quoted above : the continent which was discovered by Fernandez sank into 
the ocean again, leaving only scattered islands to show where its mountain 



4()0 KKRXANDEZ, TIIIC DISCOVERER OK ROHINSOK CKISOE'S ISLAND. 

poaks still emerged; or the account which he gave is wholly or partly false, 
lie proliahly discovered Austruliaor New Zealand; but his statements as to 
liio natives being white, well-clad, and so on, were probably fabricated for 
t lie purpose of arousing more interest in an effort to seek them out again 
than would be manifested iiad he admitted that they were dusky savages. 

The explorations of Juan Fernandez are of importance, as showing how 
early the Spaniards became acquainted with the entire western coast of South 
America. lie was certainly a brave man to venture out from shore upon the 
broad Pacific; for many a Spanish mariner of that time looked with horror 
uj)on this ocean. Had it not brought evil to all who had anything to do 
with it? And in sui)port of his belief the superstitious sailor would reckon 
the dreadful misfortunes which had befallen those whose names are connect- 
ed with its history: Balboa, its discoverer, had been beheaded; Magellan, 
who first sailed upon it from the south, was killed by infidels — and it was 
reckoned a great deal worse to be killed by infidels than to be slain by those 
of one's own faith — and the mariner on Magellan's ship who had first des- 
cried the boundless waters from the strait through which the vessel had long 
been journeying, had become a renegade, and was actually a Mohammedan 
for numy years before he died. It shows something of the strength of mind 
possessed by Juan Fernandez, that he should have been able to set all these 
things at dc^fiance and venture boldly into the blue waters. 

To lovers of books of adventure, that discovery which he undoul)lo(lly 
made is connected with an incident of much interest. After the abantlon- 
mcnt of the island of Juan Fernandez by the Spanish, it was visited l)y Dam- 
pier, that wild sea-rover who was so nearly a pirate. The captain of one of 
liis vessels quarreled with a large number of his men, and actually put five of 
them ashore. These men reniaincd here for several years; and four years 
after they were lauded their ship again touched at the island and took two 
of them on board ; the others having been captured by the French. At this 
time, 1704, the captain of this visssel had a violent quarrel with his sailing- 
master, one .Mexander Selkirk, who had been a" ne'er-do-weel" in his Scot- 
tish home, and had run away to sea rat her than answer for some youthful mis- 
demeanor. This quarrel ended by Selkirk declaring that he would rather go 
ashore than serve under such a captain any longer; the captain was glad to 
get rid of him, and ordered that he should be left on the island. Duly pro- 
vided with certain necessities, he was put ashore. But his courage failed 
him, and he begged to be taken back on board. This recjuest was refused, 
and the shij) sailed away, leaving him to the companionship of the goats. 

Five years passed ; and he learned patience in that time, as well as the 
means of extracting a certain amount of enjoyment from this solitude, be- 
coming as fleet-footed as the goats which he hunted for his food. It is related 
that one day he chased a goat so eagerly to the edge of a precipice, which was 



FERNANDEZ, THE DIS<:()\ KKKK OF ROBINiSON CRLSOES ISLAND. 



4(il 



I 



concealed by bushes, that they rolled over and over together, until they 
reached the bottom. 
Then, for the first 
time since his com- 
rades had left him, 
a ship touched at 
the island. It wa'- 
nn English vessel, 
the Duhe, com- 
manded by Capt 
WoodRodgers. Sel- 
kirk was taken on 
boai'd, and they n - 
turned to England 
where he became th( 
hero of the day. 

His story reached 
the ears of Danii 1 
DeFoe, and prove* 
his inspiration. Oi 
this foundation < 
a solitary sailor lol 
alone for severa 
years upon an uniii 
habited island, In 
built that stor\ 
which has been tht 
delight of so manj 
generations of boys ; 
and "Robinson Cru- 
soe," although hi- 
imaginary islanc 

was placed in a dif ^ 

. , ... ■ . Selkirk Follows the Goats Too Fau. 

ferent position, is 

thus inseparably connected with the islands of Juan Fernandez. 





CHAPTER XVI. 

THE THRICE VOYAGES OF SIR MARTIN rROHISHER. 

Kiirly h\i<.' — Tlio Northwest Passagi- — FrobisUer's Kuu-jprist — llie K.\|ieililiipii .--iiils — lit- 
(KirU'd Lost — lieavlu's the Anioricuii lloii-sl -The Boat Lost — Living Proot'^Kotuiu to Eii{r- 
liiiul— The iWiu-k Stone — Gold-The Second Voyage— The Faroe Islands — America — Coufiiei 
witli Natives— Fire and Tempest — Mining— Captives— A Fort Built— A War Dance— Return 
to Kngland— TIkJ Third Kxpediticm — Misl'orlunes to the Ships — Surrounded by Iei> — His Des- 
perate Kesolution— Stone House Built— Ruins Found in IStil — Results of \'oyage — FVobisher's 
Domestic Relations — Knighted by l)rak( — Letter from Queen Elizabeth— Relief of Brest— 
Frobisher Wounded — Return to England — Death. 

HI'] |»arisli rei<;ister of tlic town of Doncaster, England, contains many 
I'litries of the l)aj)tisni of intMnbers of the Frobisher family ; but, as it 
does not go back ([iiite to the middle of the sixteenth century, there is 
no record there which would enable us to guess at the time when Martin, 
the son of Francis Frobisher, Mayor of Doncaster in 1535, was born. 

It was a family that had long been prominent in the history of the |)lac<': 
for the great-grandfather of Francis Frobisher had been recorder of Don- 
caster in his time, and had married the daughter of a landed |)n)prielor in 
the neighborhood. 

Of tlie boyhood of the discoverer we have no accounts: Campbell, in his 
Lives of the Admirals, says that he was bred to the sea ; but this bare state- 
ment is all. 

There seems no doubt thai be followed the sea at an early age; for in 
1566 he was brought before the authorities on suspicion of having litted out 
a vessel to go to sea as a j)irate. Of this charge, however, he was acquitted : 
being bound upon a voyage to Guinea. His errand, most probably, was to 
procure slaves ; but this was not looked upon as wrong at that time. 

Before the time of Columbus it had been supposed that the torrid zone 
was uniidiabitable, by reason of its great heat; and it will be remembered 
that the Council of Salamanca had urged this as one reason why his project 
was impracticable. The great navigators of the last decade of the lifteenth 
century and the first half of the sixteenth had proved that this was not so; 
that it was quite possible to support life in the torrid zone. 

The same authorities who had declared life could not exist between the 
tropics, had also maintained that there could be no living near the poles on 
account of the great cold. Since one assertion had been disproved, what 
was more natural than to refuse to believe the other ? Thlis it came about 
that many ])ersons believed an open sea to exist around the poles, and the 
climate of the far north to be much less severe than had been supposed. 

"Thoroughlyfurnished of the knowledge of the sphere, and all other skills 
appertaining to the art of navigation, as also for the coniirmation he hath of 
(462) 



THK THREE VOYAGES OK (SIR MARTIN FROIUSIIER. 



4(i;>. 



the same by many years' experience, both by sea and hxnd,'.' Captain Fro- 
bisher resolved that there must be a nearer passage to India than that which 
the Portuguese had discovered, and were then using, by the Cape of Good 
Hope. He first settled the matter in his own mind, and then proved to his 
friends tliat this passage lay by the northwest, and was easy to be performed. 
"And further, he determined and resolved with himself to go make full 
proof thereof, and to accomplish, or bringfuU certificate of the truth, or else 
never to return again, knowing this to be the only thing of the world that 
was yet left undone, whereby a notable mind might be made famous and 
fortunate."' 




M II IIS rKOlilsIIH 



There was, however, something very necessary that was lacking; before he 
could set out upon this great enterprise he must have ships and men, both of 
which required a well-filled purse. According to the account of George 
Beste, who in 1578 published an account of his voyages, the first efforts to 
obtain these necessaries was in 1561, fifteen years before he succeeded. He 
first addresssd himself to the merchants; but the}' were unwilling to risk 
their money with no better security of return than Frobisher could furnish; 



Hi4 THK TIIRKK VOYAGKS OF SIR MARTIN FROBI8HKR. 

SO after many vain endeavors in this direction, he concluded to apply to iiohle- 
mcn who might be willing to help hiin for the sake of having their names 
associated with great discoveries as patrons. 

The first who listened to him with favor was Ambrose Dudley, Earl of 
Warwick; and by his persuasions many others were induced to contribute to 
the enterprise. It was no very expensive outfit that was furnished ; two small 
vessels, one of twenty and one of twenty-tive tons' burden, and a pinnace of 
ten tons, completed the fleet. Food and other supplies, in quantities suffi- 
cient for a year, were provided; and a number of adventurers having been 
enlisted, and seamen employcfl, the Gabriel and the Mic/iael set sail from 
England, June 15, l.")7(?. 

Sailing northward from England, he sighted land July 1 . He believed this 
to be Freeseland; but the shore was so bordered with ice that it was not safe 
to attempt a landing. In addition to this, they were in the midst of a dense 
fog; during which their pinnace was lost sight of, Frobisher supposing it to 
have been swallowed up by the sea; and the ^livhael, the crew thinking the 
same thing of the larger vessel, went home again, and reported that the mas- 
ter had been lost at sea. 

But although his mast was sprung and his topmast blown overboard, Fro- 
bisher continued his course toward the northwest; knowing, says the old nar- 
rative, that the sea must have an end and the land a beginning somewhere. 
His faith was rewarded July 20, by the sight of land which he named Queen 
Elizabeth's Foreland. 

Sailing farther north, he saw another " foreland,"' with a great liay or pas- 
sage dividing, as he thought, two continents from one another. With some 
difficulty he advanced into this passage, determined to explore it to the end. 
It is plain, however, from the representation of Frobisher's Strait on the 
maps of the i)eriod — for he named this passage after himself — that he did not 
go verj' far from the open sea. In such maps, the strait appears to be a 
broad and open passage, with coasts but slightly indented, connecting the two 
oceans; its width is about equal to that of the Mediterranean at the widest 
part, thought the old cosmograplier. 

Landing at a favorable point, " he saw mighty deer that seemed to be man- 
kind, which ran at him, and hsirdly he escaped with his life in a narrow way, 
where he was fain to use defense and policy to save his life. In this place he 
saw and perceivtvl sundry tokens of the people resorting thither, and being 
ashore upon the top of a hill, he perceived a number of small things floating 
in the sea afar off, which he supposed to be porpoises or scales, or some kind 
of strange fish ; but coming nearer, he discovered them to be men in small 
boats made of leather. And before he could descend down from the hill cer- 
tain of these people had almost cut off bis boat from him, having stolen se- 
cretly behind the rocks for that purpose, where he speedily hasted to his boat 



TIIIC TIIKKK ^■(>YAG^;S Ol' SIR MAKTIX FROBISIIKK. 4Gi) 

;m(l l)ciit himself to his liolhert, and narrowly escaped the danger and saved 
his boat."" 

A closer acquaintance with the Esquimaux, however, showed that there 
was no need to fear them. They came on board the ship and exchanged their 
sealskins and bearskins for bells and looking-glasses; and tried in every way 
to convince the Englishmen of their friendship. So thoroughly did the crew, 
despite the advice of Frobisher, trust the natives, that five of them went 
ashore in the boat, prob;>bly to meet the Indians at some designated point; 
but they were never heard of again. This was a serious loss, for the crew was 
but a small one, and there were scarcely enough men left to handle the ship. 
A'or could Frobisher attempt any rescue of his men ; for the one boat of the 
ship had been used to take them ashore, and those now on the vessel had no 
means of approaching the land. 

The wary natives did not come near the ship now; and Frobisher was at a 
loss how to obtain possession of one of them, since he desired to capture at 
leastone, in revenge for the loss of hisfivemen; besides, it was almost a point 
of honor with these old voyagers to bring home some of the natives, that it 
might be seen what strange lands they had visited. He accordingly rang a 
low bell, which he declared, by signs, when the Esquimaux assembled at a 
safe distance to listen to its voice, he would give to any one who would come 
and fetch it. Still they held back; and Frobisher, anxious to reassure them, 
threw a bell toward them. He purposely fell short of them; and the bell 
was lost in the sea. He then rang a louder bell, until, at last, unable to with- 
stand the temptation any longer, one of the Esquimaux swam to the side of 
the ship to receive the bell. 

Frobisher extended his hand to him; and when the savage would have 
caught at the bell, let that drop into thesea and seized the hand of the Esqui- 
maux, dragging him into the ship. "Whereupon, when he found himself in 
captivity, for very choler and disdain, he bit his tongue in twain within his 
mouth." 

This one poor Indian formed one of the chief results of the voyage; for he 
wasaliving proof of the "captain's farand tedious travel toward the unknown 
parts of the world. " Content with having taken this prisoner, and with hav- 
ing discovered the great Strait, as they supposed, they returned home, arriv- 
ing in England in August, ir)7(5. 

Some of the crew had brought with them flowers, others even bits of grass, 
as souvenirs of the strange country which they had visited. Frobisher him- 
self, having nothing better, brought a piece of black stone, so heavy that it 
seemed to contain some kind of mineral. Yet he did not think it of any im- 
portance, keeping it only for a memento of the place w'here it had been 
found. 

Arrived in London, his friends and acquaintances were not slowto ask him 



466 TIIK TIIKKK VOVAOKS t)K SIK MAKTIN FKOIUSUKK. 

what be luul l)roiiglit home witli him from this iiortlicrn voyage. He ha<l 
iiothlug but this black stone, and be divided it among them with careless 
generosity. A i)iece of it was given to the wife of one of tiie gentlemen uho 
had assisted F'roljishcr to fit out bis vessels; she accidentally dropped it in the 
fire; but managed to get it out, and to cool it, dropped it into some vinegar. 
It glistered yellow; and it was taken to <-ertain gold-finders in London to be 
assayed. These experts pronounced it to be gold, in quantities that paid 
very well for the working. 

The effect was magical; those prudent gentlemen the merchants, who had 
declined to have anything to do with the first voyage, were now anxious to be 
allowed to contribute toward the fitting out of an expedition. The gold-find- 
ers who had made the assay offered to explorethe parts where this was found, 
at their own expense; and some sought to obtain, by secret iuHueiice, a lease 
of these lands from the Queen. 

Interest having been thus increased, preparations for a second voyage were 
begun and rapidly pushed to completion. To the two vessels that had been 
fitted out before was addedathird, the^l/(Z,- and Frobisher was commissioned 
to employ one hundred and twenty men, of whom thirty were to be miners, 
refiners, and merchants. Provisions for seven months were supplied; and 
Frobisher was instructed to fill his ships with ore if he could, leaving all un- 
necessary things behind him; if he failed to find enough to hule all the vessels, 
the Aid, which was a ship of two hundred tons' burden, was to return to 
England, while he, with the two smaller vessels, followed the strait whicli 
had now been formally named after him — and which existed only in his im- 
agination and on the maps — till he came to Cathay. 

They set sail upon the last day of May, 1577; and f>n July 4, the ^^^l■ha(■1, 
which was in the lead, fired a gun, as a sign that land had ])e('n descried. The 
fog was so thick, however, that no land was really visi]>le, although the 
smooth black water gave a sure indication that it could not be far off. 

They had reached the outposts of northern Europe, the Faroe Islands, 
which Frobisher and his contemporaries call Freeseland. l^ut the mists were 
so dense around these islands that there was great danger that the vessels 
would be separated from each other; and there was considerable danger from 
the great masses of ice which came driving alongthe shore; so the three ves- 
sels again sailed to the westward. 

Scarcely w-ere they out of sight of the Faroe Islands before they encoun- 
tered a storm in which the J/Zr/^frc? suffered severely; but, persisting in their 
course, they reached land near the entrance of the straits July 17. The first 
landing was made upon that island where the specimen of gold-bearing quartz 
had been found; but a most diligent search failed to reveal another piece. 
Other islands, however, yielded some of the black stones which were now so 
eagerly sought, and the searchers returned to the vessel in good spirits. 



THE THREE VOYAGES OF SIR MARTIN FROBISHER. 467 

An elevation upon Hall's Island, which had been discovered and named on 
the preceding voyage, was called Mount Warwick, after the chief patron of 
the enterprise; and the sailors heaped a column of stones there, by way of 
marking it for the benefit of future voyagers. As they returned toward their 
boats, they saw a number of the natives on the summit of this mount, signal- 
ing to them. Frobisher answered them, and made signs that he would send 
two of his men to meet two of theirs in the space between the larger forces. 
They readily assented to this, and the four men, all unarmed, met and traded 
their respective valuables with great friendliness. Nothing could persuade 
the natives, however, to trust themselves on board the ships; nor could any- 
thing induce the Englishmen to accept their newfriends' invitation to go far- 
ther inland with them. 

Frobisher was not content, however, with the trading; he desired to cap- 
ture the two Indians to take them aboai'd the ship. He would then dismiss 
one with presents of clothes and those toys which had always proved so at- 
tractive to uncivilized people, retaining the other to serve as,an interpreter. 
In accordance with this p^an he sent his two men to the boat, while he and 
the master of one of the vessels advanced from the shore to the spot where 
the Indians stood. Some exchanges had been made, when suddenly, at a sig- 
nal that had been agi'eed upon, Frobisher and his lieutenant laid hold of the 
Esquimaux, and tried to drag them to the boat. 

"But the ground under feet being slippery, with the snow on the side of 
the hill, their handfast failed; and their prey, escaping, ran away and lightly 
recovered their bow and arrows, which they had hid not far from them in the 
rocks. And being only two savages in sight, they so fiercely, desperately, 
and with such fury assaulted and pursued our general and his master, being 
altogether unarmed, and not mistrusting their subtilities, that they chased 
them to the boat, and hurt the general in the back with an arrow, who the 
rather fled speedily back, because they suspected a greater number behind 
the rocks." 

So thoroughly alarmed were the gallant general and the companion of his 
danger that they called to the men in the boat to fire upon the Indians; and 
the sound of the discharge of a single musket most effectually routed these 
determined foes. The Englishmen, reassured by the flight of their enemies, 
gave chase; and a certain Cornishman, who excelled in wrestling, overtook 
one of the natives, and showed him "such a Cornish trick that he made his 
sides ache against the ground for a month afterward. And so being stayed, 
he was taken alive, and brought away, but the other escaped." 

While this conflict, brought about by the treachei-y of the English and the 
" subtiltie " of the natives, was going on, a storm had arisen, which pre- 
vented the boats from returning to the ships that night; and with some dif- 
ficultv they made their way to an island about a mile away, where they spent 



468 



TIIK TIIKKK VOVACKS OK SIU MAKTIN rKOUISHKK. 



Iliciii'^lil •'upon liiiiil cliffs of snow :in<l ice, hot li wd , cold ;iiiil coniforl- 
Icss.-' 

In \hv luciintinic the shijis liad hccn in great danfror; for tho cook havinft 
made a groat fire in tlie kitchen of tiie ^lii/, a defective Hue came near l>eing 
tile means of destro3'ing tlie whole vessel. Fortnnately the tire was discov- 
ered before it had gained too great a headwa}', and was "with great labor 
and God's help exlinguislied." 




QuKKN Elizabeth of England. 

The .storm continued all night, and it was not until the middle of the next 
day that the boats reached them. Tlicy then sailed foi- the southern shore of 
the straits, as they considered the land which lies just north of Hudson's 
Strait; for that small inlet at the southeastern extremity of Baftin Land is 
all the foundation that there was in reality for the magnificent fiction of Fro- 
bishcr's Straits, a wide passage connecting the two oceans. 

Here they found, as they thought at first, a large quantity of the valuable 
black stones; but when it came to bo tested, it was seen to be, much to their 
disgust, nothing more than plumbago, or black lead, as it was then called. 
They spent considerable time in exploring the surrounding islands, with a 
view to findinir whatever there might be of mineral wealth in them. 



THE THREE AOYAGES OF SIR MARTIN FROBISHER. 469 

1 11 these searches they came upon a number of the dwellings of the natives ; 
from which, however, the people had fled at their coming. In these tents 
they found a doublet of canvas, and three shoes of European manufacture — 
evidently a portion of the clothing of those five who had been captured by 
the natives the year before. The Indian whom they had captured, and who 
seems to have become fairly contented onboard the vessels, was asked about 
these, and admitted that he had known of the prisoners being taken; when 
asked, however, if his countrymen had killed and eaten them, he persistent- 
ly denied the charge. 

On another of their expeditious on shore, they captured two women, one of 
wliom carried a young child in her arms. The other was so old and ugly 
that they thought she must surely be a witch; so they put her ashore again; 
but the other woman they thought would be a good wife for their male pris- 
oner. Their matcinnaking, however, did not prosper; for although their 
two prisoners became very good friends, it seemed that each was faithful to 
some partner on shore. 

This woman confirmed what their other captive bad told them of the five 
Englishmen. At the time of discovering the doublet and shoes, they had 
left in the tent, beside them, pen, ink and paper, and also a number of trink- 
ets to put the Indians in a good humor, and induce them to permit their 
captives to communicate with their friends. Nothing had been heard from 
them, however, and it was almost concluded that they had fallen victims to 
the cruelty of their captors or the severity of the climate. Frobisher, how- 
ever, resolved to make one last effort to communicate with them; and a num- 
ber of the natives having come to the ships to trade with the strangers, Fro- 
bisher told them tiiat he was willing to exchange the man, wonum and child 
whom he held, for those five Englishmen who had been in captivity for the 
past year; and wrote the following letter, which they agreed to deliver to the 
prisoners and return with an answer within three days: — 

" In the name of God, in whom we al beleve, who, I trust, hath preserved 
your bodyes and souls amongst these infidels, I commend me unto you. I 
will be glad to seeke by all meanes you can devise, for your deliverance, eyther 
with force or with any commodities within my shippes, whit'hl will not spare 
for your sakes, or anything else I can do for you. I have aboord of theyrs a 
man, a woman, and a childe, which I am contented to deliver for you ; but the 
man I carried away from hence the lasteyeare, is dead in England. Moreover, 
you may declare unto them, that if they deliver you not, I wyll not leave a 
nianne alive in their countrey. And thus unto God, whome I trust you do 
serve, in haste I leave you, and to him we will dayly pray for you. This Tues- 
day morning, the seaventh of August, anno 1577. 

" Yours to the uttermost of my power, 

"Maktin Frobisher.' 



470 TIIK TIIKKE VOYAGES OF SIR MARTIN FHOBISHER. 

'• I liave sent you by these bearers, penne, incke, and paper, to write back 
unto nic agaync, if personally you cannot conic to ccrtifye me of your 
estate." 

Frobisher had determined not to attempt any further explorations, judging 
it best to obey literally his orders, which ))()uiid him to look for mctalliferou.s 
ore as long as there was any prospect of finding it; so he gave orders that a 
number of the men should busy themselves with making a small fort on one 
of the islands near where they had anchored. A position of great natural 
strength was chosen, being enclosed on three sides by the sea, above the level 
of whiidi the cliff rose like a wall. The side which faced the land was pro- 
vided with a bulwark of casks full of earth; and the whole, being properly 
garrisoned, afforded a safe place from which they might advance to treat 
with the Indians, without having to return to the ships, in case of hostilities, 
in the midst of a shower of arrows. 

Here they awaited the return of those natives who had undertaken to act 
as letter-carriers. On the Saturday after the letter was written, they showed 
themselves on the side of the hill, and called to the whites. It was plain that 
there were a great many of them there, most of them concealed, or partly so, 
behind rocks; and all their wiles to persuade the whites to come to a confer- 
ence with them proved useless. 

After some time, Frobisher sent a man from one of the vessels to meet one 
of theirs; for the Indians were not yet aware of the presence of the fort, 
where they were closely watched by the garrison. But the only result of this 
conference was a trade, in which the savage exchanged a great bladder for 
a looking-glass. 

The male prisoner whom they had on board asserted that this had been 
sent to him to keep water in; but the P^nglishmen were rather inclined to be- 
lieve that his friends meant him to use it as a life preserver, should he have 
an oi)|)ortunity of esca|)ing by swimming. They were rather suspicious of 
him, because both he and the woman had made several attempts to escape, 
loosing the boats from the stern of the ship, so that their captors would have 
nothing in which to pursue them. Unluckily for the wild children of the 
west, however, their efforts had always been detected in time to frustrate 
them. 

When Frobisher found that this was all that they intended to offer in trade, 
and was warned by those in the fort that the Indians who had been concealed 
were slowly closing upon him and his immediate force, he gave the signal to 
return to the ships, although he had not been able to get any news of the five 
captives. When he had left the Indians they mustered themselves in full 
sight on the top of a hill, twenty in a rank, and began a dance whii'h we, with 
a closer knowledge of the North American Indian's habits than Frobisher 
could have possessed, can only conclude was a war-dance. This was kept up 



THE THREE VOYAGES OF SIK MARTIN KROBISHER. 471 

until night, accompanied by those unearthly noises which the Indians call 
their songs; and it was only stopped when a cannon was tired from one of the 
ships. " It thundered in the hollownesse of the hygh hylles, and made unto 
them so fearefuU a noyse, that they hadde no greate wyll to tarry long after." 

Another encounter with the natives failed to get them any news of their 
captive comrades ; and, having procured almost two hundred tons of the black 
'stones from which gold was to be extracted, they resolved to set sail home- 
ward; their stock of provisions being almost exhausted. August 23 they left 
'the mouth of the strait, and the next day, being clear of the land, they steered 
to the south, resolved to bring themselves the sooner under the latitude of 
their own climate. 

Before they reached the seas where milder weather prevails, however, they 
were obliged by the wind to lie by all night; and in the morning, August 
though it was, they found snow half a foot deep on the hatches. 

Stormy weather followed them across the Atlantic; and the Aid, being 
" higher in the poop, and a tall ship, whereon the wind had more force to 
drive," outsailed the smaller vessels so far that they lost sight of each other, 
and the leader was forced to leave his consorts " to God and the good fortune 
of the sea." The Aid arrived at Milford Haven September 23; and, after 
the men had rested a little from their long voyage, left for Bristol, which 
was reached a month later. Here they found the Gabriel, which, having 
no good seamen on board, the master having been lost overboard before the 
ships parted company, had had the good fortune to fall in with a Bristol ves- 
sel at sea, and been conveyed thither. At this port they also heard that the 
Michael had safely reached a port in the north. 

While the ore that was brought home did not yield as rich a harvest as had 
been expected, judging from the specimen that had been brought on the re- 
turn from the first voyage, there was still enough gold in it, the assayers de- 
cided, to make it pay for transportation and working. Accordingly it was 
resolved that Frobisher should undertake a third voyage, for the purpose of 
procuring a larger quantity of ore; and ten vessels comprised the fleet of 
which he was placed in command. These comprised the three that he had had 
on the second voyage. 

Ninety mariners, one hundred and thirty pioneers, and fifty soldiers, com- 
prised the force under his command. In this expedition, as in the two former, 
the expenses were paid by subscription, the Queen being one of the sub- 
scribers. The whole cost of the three voyages was something over tv,'enty 
thousand pounds sterling, the equivalent, at the present day, of about a 
quarter of a million of dollars, so much greater was the purchasing power of 
money in those days. Of this sum, the sovereign contributed nearly one- 
fourth. 

This was not to be such a voyage as the two preceding, leaving no trace of 



472 



rilK TIIHKK \()VA(JKS OF SIK MAKTIN 1-KOIU 



the lands liavin<; been visited by white men; hut Fiobisher was instructed tr> 
seh^ct forty niaiincrs, gunners, shipwrights and carpenters, tliirty soldiers 
and tiiirty pioneers, and leave them, under tlie eoniniand of his lieutenant. 
Edward Fenton, in the land then called Meta Incognita; but which may be 
more intelligibly ch^scribed to the modern reader as the islands immediately 
to theuorth of North America. Provisions for seven months were to be fur- 
nished for the whole body, besides enough to last those who were left be- 
hind for a period of eighteen months. 




FkOHISHKI! DkI'ARIS O.N Ills TlilHI) VOYAGK. 

While the miners were working in the islands where the gold had already 
been found, Frobisher was to search diligently in the neighboring country 
for other mines, in order to find that which was richest. ^V suitable jjlace, 
as secure as possible from attack by the natives, was to be selected for the 
colony; and F^enton was to be ordered to observe the climate, the nature and 
state of the country at different seasons, and particularly the time of year at 
which the channel appeared to be most free from ice. Thus it was planned 
to establish a colony in the frozen north, simply because gold had been found 
there; while the vast fertile regions of the southern jiart of the continent 
were left unexplored. 

As time went on, five other vessels were added to the number of those that 



THE THRKE VOYAGES OF SIR MARTIX KROBISHEK. 473 

were to sail undei- Frobisher; niakiug fifteen in all. The general and all the 
captains were received at court shortlj' before they sailed, and Queen Eliza- 
beth jiresented Captain Frobisher with a " faire cheyne of gold." The com- 
pany was reviewed May 27, at Harwich, and four days later they sailed from 
England. Passing along the southern coast of Ireland, they saw a bark that 
they thought at first was a pirate, and hailed her; but she proved to be a 
Bristol vessel that had been overhauled by a French ship and left destitute 
of food; many of the men had been wounded and the}' were in sore straits. 
Frobisher relieved their immediate wants, and, having thus begun his voyage 
in the exorcise of charity, sailed gaily across the Atlantic. 

June 20 land was descried ; it proved to be the most western of the Faroe 
Islands. Here Frobisher and some of his companions went ashore; taking 
possession of it — for it had not been known heretofore — in the name of the 
Queen. 

The last day of June they fell in with a school of whales ; one of these was 
struck by oue of the vessels in such a way that the ship was stopped. With 
a roar of pain the immense beast raised his body and tail above the surface 
of the water and sank into its depths. Two days later they found it floating 
on the sea. They seem to have made no attempt to secure the oil or bone 
from any of these whales. 

July 2 they came in sight of the Queen's Foreland, but were unable to land 
by reason of the ice. They stood out to sea for the night, and for five days 
remained out of sight of laud. 

During the voyage two of the vessels of the fleet had disappeared so com- 
pletely that Frobisher could only suppose that they were lost. One of these 
had been under the command of Fenton, his lieutenant. Nothing had been 
seen or heard of them for twenty days. While they were seeking anchorage 
at the land which was so near, one of the vessels, a bark of a hundred tons' 
burden, received such a blow from an iceberg that she sank in sight of the 
whole fleet. It was only by the greatest exertion on the part of the other 
sailors that her crew could be saved. 

"This was a more fearful spectacle for the fleet to behold, for that the out- 
rageous storm, which presently followed, threatened them the like fortune 
and danger. For the fleet being thus compassed, as foresaid, on every side with 
ice, having left much behind them through which they had passed, and find- 
ing more before them, through which it was not possible to pass, there arose 
a sudden and terrible tempest at the southeast, which blowing from the main 
sea directly upon the place of the straits, brought together all the ice asea- 
board of us upon our backs, and thereby debarred us of turning back to re- 
cover sea-room again; so that being thus compassed with danger on every 
side, sundi-y men with sundry devices sought the best way to save themselves. 
Some of the ships, where they could find a place more clear of ice, and get » 



474 TIIK THREE VOYAGES OF SIR MARTIN FROBISIIER. 

little berth of sea-room, did take in their sails, and there lay adrift. Other 
some fastoiiod and moored anclior upon a great island of ice, and rode 
under the lee thereof, supposing to be better guarded thereby from the 
outrageous winds and the danger of the lesser floating ice. And again some 
were so fast shut up and compassed in amongst an infinite number of great 
countries and islands of ice, that they were fain to submit themselves and 
their ships to the mercy of the unmerciful ice, and strengthened the sides 
of their ships with junks of cables, beds, masts, planks, and such like, which 
being hanged overboard, on the sides of their ships, might the better defend 
them from the outrageous sway and sweep of the ice. * * • Thus all the 
gallant fleet and miserable men, without hope of ever getting forth again, 
distressed with these extr(;mities, remained here all the whole nigiit and part 
of the next day, excepting four ships * * * which, being somewhat asea- 
board of the fleet, and being fast ships, by a wind, having a more scope of 
clear, tried it out all the time of the storm under sail, being hardly able to 
bear a coast of each. 

"And albeit, by reason of the floating ice, which was dispersed here almost 
the whole sea over, they were brought many times to the extreme point of peril, 
mountains of ice ten thousand times scaping them scarce one inch, which to 
have stricken had been the present destruction, considering the swift course 
and way of the ships, and the unwieldiness of them to stay and turn as a man 
would wish, * * * and even now, while amidst these extremities, this gallant 
fleet and valiant men were altogether overlabored and forewatched, with the 
long and fearful continuance of the foresaid dangers, it pleasedCJod, with his 
eyes of mercy looking down from Heaven, to send them help in good time 
giving them the next day a more favorable wind at the west northwest, wiiicii 
did not only disperse ami drive the ice before them, but also gave them lib- 
erty of more scope and sea-room, » * • and to their greatest comfort they 
enjoyed again the fellowship of one another. * • • And now the whole fleet 
plycd off to seaward, resolving there to abide, until the sun might consume, 
or the force of wind disperse, these ice from the place of their passage; and 
being a good berth off the shore, they took in their sails, and lay adrift." 

When at last they were able to make laud, they could not recognize the 
place; although, according to Frobisher's reckoning, they were in the same 
position as last year. Masses of ice and snow so change the appearance of 
the coasts in these northern lands, from year to year, that the coasts are not 
always recognizable. In addition to this a thick fog overhung the land and 
continued twenty days. 

Those who had accompanied Frobisher on his former voyages were not 
slow to declare that they had never seen this coast before; and the fog ren- 
dering it impossible for him to take observations for the inirpose of determ- 
ining his exact position, he was at a loss what to do. Finally, however, he 



THE THREE VOYAC5ES OF SIR MARTIN FROBISHER. 



475 



resolved to push on through the waters that lay before him; and although it 
soon became apparent to him that his subordinates were right, and they were 
not now in the entrance to that body of water which had been christened 
Frobisher's Straits, he stoutly maintained that it was the same passage. 



I 




Ajioxg th?: Ickbergs. 
"And as some of the company reported, he hath since confessed that, if it 
had not been for the charge and care he had of the fleet and freighted ships, 
he both would and could have gone through to the South Sea, called Mare 
del Sur, and dissolved the long doubt of the passage which we seek to find 
the rich country of Cataya." 

So writes the Elizabethan historian ; never dreaming that almost three hun- 



476 IIIK THRER VOYAGES OF SIR MAETIN FROBI8HER. 

dred 3'ears would pass before the long-sought Northwest Passage would be 
discovered, only to be found to be practically useless. Having proceeded 
some distance along the coast of these new straits, Frobishor saw no hope of 
reaching any more desirable land; and, being anxious about many of his ves- 
sels, resolved to return. So much time had been taken up by the storms, 
the mistaken journey along this shore and the return, that there remained 
only a small part of the precious summer season for loading the ships with 
the ore. Added to tliis they had great difficulty in finding a harbor; and the 
danger in which they lay was such that Frobisher "determined with this res- 
olution, to pass and recover his i)ort, or else to bury himself with his attempt ; 
and if such extremity so befell him, that he must needs perish amongthe ice, 
when all ho[)e should be past, and all hope of safety set aside, having all the 
ordinance within board well charged, resolved with powder to burn and bury 
himself and all together with her Majesty's ships. And Avith this peal of or- 
dinance, to receive an honorable knell, instead of a better burial, esteeming 
it more happy so to end his life, rather than himself, or any of his company, 
or any one of her Majesty's ships should become a prey and spectacle to those 
base and bloody man-eating people." 

lie did not make this desperate determination public, however; but taking 
a pinnace he went closer to the land than the ships could do, seeking a safe 
harbor, as well as a deposit of ore. While he M-as gone on this errand the shii)s 
were scattered by a terrible storm; in which the wind was accompanied l)y so 
much cold, that the snow lay half a foot deep on their hatches, and the sail- 
ors were scarcely able to handle the ropes and sails. 

It was the last of July when Frobisher found the harbor of which he ^was 
in search; and riding there at anchor were the two vessels, one under Fen- 
ton's command, that bethought had been lost on the way across. 

Immediately after landing, Frobisher called a council of his captains, to 
decide upon the course to be pursued. It was found that the house wliich 
had been prepared and transported in sections, was not complete; for parts of 
it had been lost with the ship that sank. Nor did they have the stock of pro- 
visions upon which they had calculated. But they were not contented to leave 
it thus. We read in the account which has been frequently quoted: — 

" This day [.Vugust 30] the masons tinished a house which Captain Fenton 
caused to be made of stone and lime upon the Countess of Warwick's Is- 
land, to the end that wo might prove it against the next year whether the 
snow could overwhelm it, the frosts break up, or the people dismember the 
same. And the better to allure these brutish and uncivil people to courtesy, 
against other time of our coming, we left therein divers of our country toys, 
as bells and knives, wherein they specially delight, one for the necessary use, 
and the other for the great pleasure thereof. Also pictures of men and wo- 
men in lead, men a horseback, looking-glasses, whistles, and pipes. Also in 



THE THKEK VOYAUES OF Klli MARTIN FROBISHKR. 477 

tho house was made an oven, and bread left baked therein, for them to see 
and taste. We buried the timber of our pretended fort, with many barrels of 
meal, peas, grist, and sundry other good things, * * * * and instead we freight 
our ships full of ore, which we hold of far greater price. Also here we sowed 
peas, corn, and other grain, to prove the fruitfulness of the soil against the 
next year. ' ' 

Two hundred and eighty-three years after this house was built, Captain 
Hall, the Arctic explorer, found its ruins, and brought away a number of rel- 
ics frona it and from the timber of the intended fort. It is situated on tlu^. 
Island known by its native name of Kod-lu-naru. These relics were trans- 
mitted to London, in care of the Royal Geographical Society, and placed in 
the British Museum. At the same time Captain Hall came upon a " reservoir,"' 
as he at iirst called it, which he supposed to be a pit from which the stone 
containing gold had been dug by Frobisher's followers. 

The mists and fogs which came with redoubled frequency, the continually 
falling snow and stormy weather, gave them warning that it was time to b(> 
thinking of the homeward voyage. One thousand three hundred and tifty 
tons of the ore had been taken on board the various ships ; and, on the second 
of September, 1578, they set sail for England, where they arrived after a less 
tempestuous passage than the outward voyage had been. 

The ore that was brought home on this third voyage was found to be much 
less valuable than that which had been before procured; so we hear nothing 
more of expeditions to the northwestern seas for the sake of gold. It is to 
be regretted, too, that the vagueness of the statements regai'ding latitudes 
and longitudes makes it extremely doubtful where Frobisher explored; the 
finding of the relics which have been mentioned above was of particular im- 
portance, as fixing, more certainly than anything else could do, the location 
of the island where much of the gold was found, and off which the vessels 
comprising the fleet for the third expedition lay at anchor for a considerable 
time. 

Two years after his return to England, we find in the State Papers the rec- 
ord of Martin Frobisher's appointment to the honorable post of Clerk of Her 
Majesty's Ships. His domestic relations, however, seem to be less pleasant 
than his public experience; or, at least, he was less exemplary as a man than 
as an ofilcer; for in 1581 Isabel Frobisher filed a petition, complaining that 
Captain Frobisher — "whona God forgive" — had spent all the money left to 
her and her children by Thomas Ruggat, her first husband. The money was 
probably spent in fitting out the vessels for the third voyage, for he was a 
subscriber to the stock, and it proved, financially, a disastrous failure. 

He commanded a vessel in that expedition to the "West Indies, under the 
leadership of Sir Francis Drake, of which a detailed account will be found in 
the chapter devoted to the great Elizabethan admiral. On this occasion his 



478 



THE TUKKE VOYAGES OF SIR MAKTIN KKOBISHER. 



■ihip 
such 



was the one which made the first attack on the enemy; "and therein did 
excellent service that he wasamongthenuinl)erof the few kni<rhts made 

by the Lord High Admiral on that 
|^^^^^^^^__^ signal occasion." 

He seems to have remained to 
watch the Narrow Seas, while Drake 
departed in search of more stirring 
adventures. In 1590 he commanded 
an expedition sent against the coast 
of Spain and the neighboring islands; 
and in l.")92 the fleet sent out by Sir 
Walter Kalcigh. 

The King of Spain had sent three 
thousand men to besiege Brest, and 
tlie Freneii had appealed to Queen 
Elizabeth for assistance. She rejjlicd 
by sending a squadron under the com- 
mand of Sir Martin Frobisher, to 
whom she addressed the following 
letter:— 




SiK Wm II k Km 1 lOH 



"ELIZABETH, }i. 

" Trustie and welbeloved, wee greet you well ; wee have seen your letter to our Threasuror 
and our Aduiyrall, and thereby perceive your love of oiu: service, also by others youre owne 
good carriage, whereby you have wonnc yourself reputation ; whereof, for that wee imagine it 
wil be comfort unto you to understand, we have thought it good to vouchsafe to take knowl- 
edge of it by our owne hande writingc. 

" Wee know you are sufficiently instructed from our Admyrall, besides your own circum- 
spection, howe to prevent any soddaine niischiefe by lire or otherwise upon our fleete under 
your charge; and yet do wee thinke it will worke in you the more impression to be by our- 
self againe remembred, who have observed by former experience that the Spaniards, for all 
their boaste, will truste more to their devices than they dare in deed with force look upon 
you. For the rest of mv directions, wee leave them to such letters as you shall receave from 
our Counsaile. 

"Given under our prlvie signet at our mansion of Richmond the 14th of November, in the 
thirty-sixth ycare of our reigne. 1594. " L. S. 

" To our trustie and wellbeloved 

" SiK M.\in'iXK Ft'KBr.ssnKR, Knight.'" 

Wise as was the caution recommended in this letter, it did not have much 
effect upon the facts; for it was not delivered to the person addressed until 
after he returned to England. 

Let us ])riefiy trace the progress of this effort to assist the besieged inhab- 
itants of Brest. The garrison, although closely beleaguered, had managed 
to hold out until the English ships arrived off the coast. Sir Martin landed 



THE THREE VOYAGES OF SIR MARTIN FROBISHER. 479 

his sailors, and led them in a desperate storming of the besieging party's 
works. These were carried, but not without severe loss on the j^art of the 
English. Several captains were killed and Sir Martin himself received a shot 
iu his side. 

Having driven off the Spaniards and relieved the besieged garrison. Sir 
Martin returned to England, arriving at Plymouth early in the month of No- 
vember, 1594. 

Notwithstanding his wound. Sir Martin took an active part in directing 
the movements of his squadron, and prepared a formal report to the Lord 
High Admiral, which is dated November 8. His injury, however, was a 
more severe one than had at first been thought. An operation was per- 
formed to remove the bullet, but, perhaps from some lack of skill in the sur- 
geon, perhaps from fever and secondary hemorrhage setting in, he grew 
worse, and November 22, 1594. died Sir Martin Frobisher, "a most valorous 
man, and one that is to be reckoned among the famousest men of our age for 
counsel and glory gotten at sea, as by the things which I have before spoken 
plainly appeareth." 



CHAPTER XVII. 

SIR FliAXCIS DKAKK, TIIK KLIZABETHAN NAVIGATOR. 

.V Clergyman's f^oii — His Youth — Early Adventures — Various Enterprises — X'oyagt In 
America — Drake Woundetl — Retreat to Ships — Overland to Panama — Drake's Vow — Treasure 
Secured — The Raft — Reprisals — Return to England — Sails for tl'ie South Sea — Ort' Brazil — 
Thieving Natives — Skirmish — Plot Against Drake — On the Paeitic — Storms — Mistaken fur 
Spaniards — Prizes — Homeward Bound — New Albion — Coast of North America — I'amping <<u 
Land — Across the Pacific — The Ladrones— Ternate — Doubling the Cape — Arrival in England 
— A Day Lost— Knighted by the Queen — A New Commission — To the West Indies iind Vir- 
ginia — Return to England — The Spanish .Vrmada — Surrendering to the Fortune of Drake — To 
Succor Portugal — Drake's Last Expedition — The Spanish Main — Attacked by the Spaniards 
— War on the Coast Towns — Di.sappointment.s— Illness and Death of Drake. 

(b I HE " spacious times of great Elizabeth " are tilled with many a gal- 
* I hint and stalely tigure ; hut there are few who are more attractive to 
the fancy than Sir Francis Drake, that bold sailor through unknown 
seas, and the brave defender of his native land when threatened by the 
great Armada which Spain had sent against England and had l)oastingiy 
named "The Invincible." 

The hero's father was a clergyman of Devonshire, in which country his 
afterwartl celebrated son was born about 1540. The boy was about thirteen 
years old when Mary became Queen, and those religious jiersecutions began 
which have caused her to be known, in English history, as " Bloody Mary." 
The dependence of the Church upon the State made the religion of the 
sovereign a question of great importance ; and this Queen diU'ered so widely 
from her t)rother and predecessor in this respect, that many clergymen gave 
up their livings and undertook other work. One of those who followed this 
course was the elder Drake, who resigned his preferment in the Church, and 
removed with his family of twelve sons into the county of Kent. 

Although Uui hoy was the godson and namesake of Francis, Earl of Heil- 
ford, he appears to have derived no advantage from this connection; it is 
said that he was employed as a ferry-boy; later he was bound apprentice to 
the master of a vessel which traded with Holland and France. The master 
i)ecame much attached to him ; and, dying when Drake was still a young 
num, becpieatlied the ship to him. Before he was twenty, however, he had 
sold this vessel and gone as i)ur.ser on a ship to the Bay of Biscay, and then 
on a voyage to the Gulf of Guinea. 

In 1665 he sailed with Lovel to the West Indies, but received very hard 
treatment from the S])aniards there. Two years later, we Iind him selling all 

(480) 



SIR FRANCIS DRAKK, THE EHZAH?;THAN NAVIGATOR. 



481 



his possessions, to invest the sum thus realized in an expedition to tiic Guinea 
coast. Sir John Plawkins, noted as a buccaneer, was the commander of the 
fleet; and the object was the capture of slaves. They expected to sell these un- 





FUANCIS DlLlKE AS A FeU1!Y-B0Y. 

fortunate captives in the West Indies, where there was a considerable demand 
for these imported slaves, since it had been found that the natives could not 



SIR FRANCIS DRAKE, THE KI.IZABETHAN NAVUiATOK. 483 

be forced to labor for the white men; but an unfavorable wind drove then; 
to the coast of Mexico, where they anchored in the harbor of a Spanish set- 
tlement. Here they found a number of richly laden ships ready to sail for 
Spain, and might easily have captured them. Such was the estimation in 
which piracy was held then, that, this was a real temptation, and the question 
was seriously debated; but better counsels prevailed and it was decided to let 
the ships alone. Their forbearance, however, was rudely rewarded; for the 
Spaniards took the first opportunity of assaulting the English fleet; they at- 
tempted to board the Minion and Jesus, but were kept out, with great loss 
on both sides. "Now," says Hawkins, "when the Jesus and the Minion 
were gotten about two ships' lengths from the Spanish fleet, the fight began 
so hot on all sides, that, within one hour, the admiral of the Spaniards was 
supposed to be sunk, their vice-admiral burnt, and one other of their princi- 
pal ships supposed to be sunk. The Spaniards used their shore artillery to 
such effect that it cut all the masts and yards of the Jesus, and sunk Haw- 
kins' smaller ships, the Judith only excepted." It had been determined, as 
there was little hope to get the Jesus away, that she should be placed as a 
target or defence for the Minion till night, when they would remove such of 
the stores and valuables as was possible, and then abandon her. "As they 
were thus determining," says Hawkins, "and had placed the i)//?;jOH. from 
the shot of the land, suddenly the Spaniards fired two great ships, which 
were coming directly with us; and having no means to avoid the fire, it bred 
among the men a marvelous fear, so that some said, ' Let us depart with the 
Minion;' others said, ' Let us see whether the wind will carry the fire from 
us.' But the Minion s men, which had always their sails in readiness, thought 
to make sure work, and so, without either consent of the captain or master, 
cut their sail." Hawkins was "very hardly" received on board, and many 
of the men of the Jesus fell into the hands of the Spaniards, who treated 
them with the greatest cruelty imaginable. 

Only two vessels escaped, one of which was the Judith, commanded by 
Drake; the other four fell into the hands of the Spaniards, or were sunk. 
These two got safely out to sea, but they were but insufiiciently provisioned 
for a long voyage, and there were none but Spanish settlements in the New 
World. There %vas no help for it but to make the best of their M'ay across 
the Atlantic; and, although they suffered greatly for food, the future Admi- 
ral and his crew held to their course and reached their native country at last; 
the commander firmly resolved to revenge himself upon the Spaniards as 
soon as ojiportunity offered. 

Much had been hoped for from the success of this expedition; but the 
promoters of it found themselves poorer than when they set out. Drake was 
so reduced in fortune that he entered the service of Queen Elizabeth, and 
for two years we hear nothing of him. His time in the Royal Navy was spent 



484 



SIR JKANCIS DUAKK, TIIK KLIZAHKTII AX NAN lliATOH. 



to good adviiutagc, and in 1570 lie was able to make another voyage to the 
"West Indies with two ships provided mainly by private enterprise. The next 
year he made another voyage, with one vessel only; his object being to exam- 
ine the coasts and note precisely the condition of the various .settlements, 
that ho might bo better able to strike a crushing blow, when ho found his 
time for vengeance had come. 




DiLVKK Catili;! 



Mill (.iAl.l.l.U.N. 



His reputation for seamanship, courage, and executive ability was such 
that when ho announced his intention of sailing to America to make reprisals 
upon the Spaniards, he was at once joined by as many volunteers as he cared 
to enlist. May 24, l.'')72, ho set sail from Plymouth with two vessels, one of 
which was commanded by his brother John; and a force of seventy-thi'ee 
men, all told. The vessels carried a year's supply of food besides ample 
military stores for tho same period; and three i)innaces were stowed away, 
ready to be put together when there should be occasion to use them. 

Leaving his vessels anchored in a secure harbor on the coast of the Amer- 
ican main land, Drake now proceeded to the execution of his plans. Cap- 
tain Kawse was left in command with twenty men; while Drake himself, 
with the bulk of his force, i)rocceded in the pinnaces, keei)ing close under 
shore all day, and rowing hard all night. 

As they entered the bay on which stootl the Spanish scttlemcut called 
Nombre de Dios, they spied a ship which had just come from Spain with a 
cargo of wine. This vessel was forced to the side of the bay, lest she should 
give the alarm; for surprise was an essential of success. Drake and his men 
then hastily rowed to the fort and entered without resistance; for there was 



.1 



I 



SUi FUANCIS UKAKK, TIIK KLlZABEPll AN NA\UiATOU. 485 

but one man there, so careless was the system of military duties. This man, 
however, was sufficient to alarm the town; and when the Englishmen had 
dismounted the guns which they found in the fort, they consulted as to the 
best means of assaulting a town where the inhabitants were prepared to re- 
sist them. A guard was placed upon the pinnaces, and the renuiining thirty- 
two men wei-e divided into two parties, which were to march into the town, 
with drums beating and colors flying, and begin the attack at the same time. 

The Spaniards were drawn up in front of the Governor's house, taking 
due care to cover the road that led to Panama, for that M'as their only avenue 
of retreat. When the English advanced upon them, they imagined, from 
the warlike show and the noise of the drums, that they were about to be 
attacked by a large force; and, throwing down their arms, scattered in all 
directions. 

Drake gave the order to march toward the royal treasury; l)ut scai'cely had 
they reached this center of attraction, when a violent storm of thunder, wind 
and rain, which had been tiireatening for some time, burst upon them. Their 
guns and ammunition were wet before they could find shelter; and the sail- 
ors, alarmed at the situation in which they found themselves, practically un- 
armed in the midst of a town which they had assaulted and were about to 
I'ob, began to look longingly toward the pinnaces. Drake would hear nothing 
of retreat, however. Nor would he permit them to carry off great bars of 
silver which they found in the store-house. 

"If you find silver where the door is left open," saitl he, ••what shall we 
find where the doors are closed and locked?" 

They knew him too well to refuse to follow where he led; but still they 
would far rather have gone back to their boats. Drake himself, however, felt 
his strength giving way. The Spaniards had fired two or three shots before 
throwing away their arms and running, and one had wounded him in the leg. 
lie had said nothing of it, fearing that it would have a bad effect upon his 
men to know that their leader was wounded; but now he had lost so much 
blood that the hurt began to affect his appearance. They asked why his face 
should be so pale beneath the bronze which the sea-air had given to his nat- 
urally florid complexion; and one, perhaps his brother, asked him the ques- 
tion direct. "Weakness overcame him, and he sank down; faintly command- 
ing them to retreat to the pinnaces. His anxious followers bound his wound 
with his scarf and carried him to the boats; reaching the haven of safety 
without losing but one man in the course of their attack upon the town. 

Returning to the ships, they were told by those who remained there that 
their coming was known all along the coast; and Captain Rawse declared 
that he had no further hopes of success. Drake, however, was determined 
that the Spaniards should suffer for the wrong that had been done him in the 
past, and sailed again to attack the settlements. 



SIR FRANCIS DRAKE, THK ELIZABETIIAX NAVIGATOR. 487 

III order to be encumbered with as few vessels as possible, and have only 
those which were capable of rapid movements, Drake decided to destroy one 
of his ships, although he dared not inform his foUowersof what he proposed 
doing. The carpenter bored three holes in the bottom of the vessel, and the 
hold was half full of water before the crew was permitted to discover the 
leak. It was then too late to save her; and by Drake's orders they set fire to 
her, to prevent the Spaniards from securing possession of her. 

Placing his brother in command of the remaining ship, Drake reserved the 
l)est of the pinnaces for his own use, and proceeded to a sheltered point on 
the isthmus, where he encamped, keeping so quiet that he hoped the enemy 
would be led to think that he had left the coast; for he had failed in one or 
two attacks because his coming was expected. 

A treaty had been concluded with some Indians, who, having been vei'y 
harshly treated by the Spaniards a number of years before, had succeeded in 
escaping from the neighborhood of these cruel newcomers and establishing 
themselves at some distance from the settlements. In company with a num- 
ber of these Indians a small force of the Englishmen set out to march over- 
land to Panama. 

Drake led the party in person and the journey occupied about two weeks, 
beginning early in February, 1573. This seems to have been Drake's first ex- 
perience as an explorer; hitherto he had sailed over well-known waters, 
guided by charts of unquestioned authority, to points which had already been 
deternuned: now he was going beyond the bounds of what was well known, 
into that land which was known only by dim and uncertain tradition. 

It is true that Balboa had climbed the heights and seen the broad Pacific 
more than half a century before; but as yet all these lands beyond the coast 
were strange to Englishmen; the earth here had been trodden only by the 
natives and the Spaniards. 

Climbing a high hill on the morning of the 17th of February, Drake saw 
spread out before him two vast oceans. On one haud was the Atlantic, the 
"North Sea," which he had left, and on the other was the "South Sea," to 
which the name of Pacifi(^, given by Magellan nearly fifty years before, had 
not yet been generally applied. Over the vast extent of the latter Drake dv- 
termincd that he would yet sail in an English ship; and until his time no 
other man had made such a resolution. That he made it, and kept it, gave 
Great Britain a claim to the western coast of the continent; although that 
f claim was not made good, excepting as to the territory north of the present 
boundary of the United States. 

This hill was not far from Panama, whither they were bound; and it was 
now necessary for them to keep as quiet as possible. Their precautions were 
rendered of no account by the action of one of the party, who had been 
drinking, and who proved unnuinagoable at tlic very moment when conceal- 



48S Ml{ KRANCIS DKAKK, Till-. KI.IZAHKTIIAN N A\ KJ ATI )1{. 

iiu'iit was most necessary. As tlic result of this Ix'trayal. althoujili tliey luul 
been informed that the treasurer of the town was to leave that very night for 
Nonibre (le Dios, with fourteen mules laden with gold and silver, and one 
with i)reeious stones, they were able to seize only two horse-loads of silver 
from two caravans which passed; the treasurer of whose movements their In- 
tlian spy had brought intelligence turning back when he learned that 
strangers were ctniccalcd on the road. 

Drake's party marched on to Santa Cruz. Near the town, they met with a 
party of soldiers, who commanded them to surrender, promising them kintl 
I reatment. But t he hardy buccaneers laughed at the demand, and so returne<l 
the fire of the Sjjanish soldiers that the whole pai-ty was put to flight, while 
the Englishmen followed at their heels, and cntorc<l llie town with their In- 
dian allies. 

Drake now determined (o return to his ship, about whii'h he was somewhat 
anxious. He found all in good condition, and was del>ating with his lieuten- 
ants what should be done next, when a ship was seen bearing down upon 
them. They knew that the name of Drake had become dreaded throughout 
the whole length of the coast, wherever there were Spanish settlements, and 
that vessels were being built to convoy those which must be used to transport 
treasure ; and they at once thought that this was a ship which had been sent 
against them. It proved, however, to be a French ship, the captain and crew 
of which were desirous of associating themselves with Drake as soon as they 
found who he was and for what purpose he was upon this coast. 

Leaving the two ships in a safe harbor, Drake, with twenty French and 
fifteen English and Indians, sailed in the pinnaces to liio Francis^-o. Landing 
here with some of the men, he left the vessels in charge of the others, with 
strict orders to meet them at a given point in three or four days. The land 
party then struck inland, and halted within a mile of the highway, where 
they must see and hear all that jjasscd; for the mules then used for transport- 
ing goods had their harness hung with bells, so that their approach could i)e 
heartl from a consideralile distance. 

In these days this would be regarded as nothing more or less than highway 
robbery, however it may have been justified tlienas reprisals upon an enemy; 
and when the caravan came near them, Drake and his men promptly helped 
themselves to the treasure, burying that which they could not carry off. 

The next day they approached the shore; but seeing no signs of the pin- 
naces, although it was now time for them to be at the ai)pointed phu'c, ])egan 
to fear tliat they were lost; and the sight of seven Si)anish pinnaces hover- 
ing at a distance did not make them feel any better about it. Happily for the 
adventurers, a sudden gust of wind and rain caused these vessels to sheer off 
from the shore ; so that they were free to approach and search for their own 
vessels. 



I 



iSIU KUANCIS UKAKE, THE ELIZAKETllAX NAVUIATOK. -IcSlI 

Drake now began to fear that his pinnaces had been captured, and that the 
sailors who manned them would be tortured by the Spaniards in order to 
make them confess where the larger vessels were hidden. He accordingly 
began the construction of a raft, that he and those who were with him might 
reach the ships and sail away before they were discovered by tlie Spaniards; 
for the hitter would require some time to raise a force sufficient to attack the 
vessels. 

One Englishman, two Frenchmen, and an Indian were all who were willing 
to assist him in the work; and, having lashed the raft pretty securely, they 
made a sail of biscuit-bags, contrived a rudder, and committed their for- 
tunes to the water. On this raft, they sat up to their waists in water, and 
sometimes sank till their armpits were wet. After a voyage of six hours, 
they caught sight of the ships; and running the raft on the nearest shore, 
went round to them by land. Here he learned that a hard gale had prevented 
the pinnaces from keeping their appointment at the stated time; and here 
they came after a day or so, having reached the land and taken on board 
those whom Drake had left as guards, together with the treasure which they 
had taken to the shore. That which had been hidden was recovered by the 
Spaniards. 

The French ship now parted company with them; and Drake, hoistingthe 
British flag, sailed boldly along the coast, stopping any vessel bound to the 
Spanish settlements. Two hundred vessels were thus overhauled, the English 
commander taking great credit to himself because he usually set them adrift 
to return to their owners, and did not cause the death of a single prisoner. 

Their stock of provisions and stores was growing less, however, and Drake 
was anxious to explore that great ocean which he had seen from the height 
on the isthmus. He therefore gave orders to set sail for England. They ar- 
rived at Plymouth August 9, 1573. It was Sunday, and services were in pro- 
gress in the churches; but in some way the worshipers learned that Drake 
had returned from the Spanish Main, as this part of the ocean was then called, 
and they left the preacher to talk to empty pews while they gathered about 
the harbor to see the ships and the sailors that had passed through wonder- 
ful adventures and returned to England with fabulous treasui-es. 

Drake's first voyage must be regarded as preparation for that in which he 
appears in the part of an explorer, if not a discoverer. He returned to Eng- 
land full of enthusiasm about the great ocean west of America, and devoted 
his shai'e of the wealth acquired during this first independent voyage to fitting 
out vessels for its exploration. Three frigates were prepared ; and, through the 
influence of the Earl of Essex and Christopher Hatton, Drake obtained the 
Queen's commission to go to the South Sea. His former success was such 
that he had no lack of volunteers ; and many stood ready to promote the expe- 
dition. 



k 



SIR FRANCIS DRAKE, THE ELIZABETHAN NAVIGATOR. 491 

November 15, 1573, Drake sailed out of Plymouth harbor with a fleet of 
five vessels; the largest was a ship of one hundred tons' burden, and the 
snuillest a pinnace of fifteen tons. A violent storm arose before they were 
fairly out of sight of land, which so damaged the vessels that they were ob- 
liged to put back to refit; and it was almost a month before they were ready 
to sail again. 

The winter was spent in cruising about the coast of Africa and the adja- 
cent islands, some few prizes being taken. It must be remembered, in excuse 
for Drake's war upou the Spanish shipping and settlements, that there was 
all but open war between Spain and England. There had been no formal 
declaration, but the Queen upheld the rebels against Spanish authority in 
the Low Countries, and the King of Spain was even then considering the pre- 
paration of the Invincible Armada, which was to be sent against England for 
the utter destruction of that country. Drake attacked Portuguese settle- 
ments because Portugal was then a province of Spain, having been conquered 
in 1550 and remaining tributary until 1640. 

It was not until April 5 that, having crossed the Atlantic at about the equa- 
tor, they spied land. This was a part of the coast of Brazil ; but they did not 
anchor for nearly a week. They made great efforts to make friends with the 
natives; but were received with some distrust. After some time, however, 
the Indians acquired a little more confidence; so that two of theiii, slipping 
up behind Drake, actually stole his hat off his head; and hid themselves to 
divide the spoil thus obtained; one taking the hat, while the other satisfied 
himself M'ith the shining gold lace adorning it. 

Many seals were killed here, so that Drake gave the inlet the name of Seal 
Bay. Here also they saw penguins; these birds were so stupid that the men 
easily knocked them on the head with sticks ; and there were ostriches which 
they described as being able to grasp stones in their talons and fling them 
with very good aim at their pursuers. 

Sailing southward they came to the anchorage which Magellan had named 
Port St. Julian. Here Drake landed in compauy with six of his men; but 
the natives proved less friendly than at other places and attacked the stran- 
gers fiercely. One of the white men was slain ; and Drake avenged the death . 
of his friend and follower — for he had a "tender regard" for this man — by 
killing the murderer with his own hand. After this skirmish the Englishmen 
retreated to their ships, landing again the next day to bury the body of their 
comi'ade. 

As was so frequently the case among the followers of the great navigators, 
there were mutineers among Drake's men ; and a certain Captain Doughty 
had planned Drake's death. The plot was disclosed, however, before oppor- 
tunity for carrying it out was found; and Doughty was tried, found guilty, 
and sentenced to death. Either his associates were shielded by their com- 



492 



SIK IKANCIS DltAKK, TlIK KM/.ABKTllAN NAVIOATOR. 



rades, or wore loss docply concerned than lie had tried to show, for they were 
not sevorel3'i)iiiiislied; Drake contented himself with making an example of 
one man. 




An Am NDAMii c>p Wii.d Fowl. 

On file shore near where they had anchored, wore to be seen the ghastly 
outlines of a gibbet, erected more than half a century before by Magellan for 
the punishment of those sailors who had mutinied against him; and on this 
same scaffold which had been the scene of their death, the English rebel 
against his chief was hanged. It was frequently the practice at that time 
that the body of a malefactor should be loft hanging, until the llesh foil 
away orwas eaten bybirds of prey, leaving the skeleton dangling; but Drake, 
more humane, caused Doughty's body to be buried, and a large stone fi.xed 
at each end of his grave, on one of which his name was rudely chiseled in 
Latin. « 



SIR FRANCIS DRAKE, THE ELIZABETHAN NAVIGATOR. 493 

Leaving this port August 17, they reached the Straits of Magcllau three 
days hiter. It had been supposed, before this time, that the current iu these 
straits always set one way; but Drake found it varying with time and place. 
More than two weeks were consumed in their passage through the straits, as 
they were doubtful of the course, and were frequently endangered by the 
sudden squalls from the snow-covered heights on both sides of the passage. 
September 7 they entered the Pacific; Drake's desire was achieved: he was 
sailing an English ship on the South Sea. 

It must be remembered that, although there were many vessels which had 
sailed upon the Pacific before this time, Drake was practically sailing over 
unknown waters. Information was slowly spread in that time, and often 
jealously guarded. The explorations which had been made of the coast of 
South America were largely by the Spaniards and Portuguese; and each of 
these nations was anxious to prevent the mariners of all others from profiting 
by the experience of her own. It is true that maps and charts were prepared, 
showing the extent and situation of the lauds discovered and claimed; but 
there was no record given to the public of the particulars which would prove 
so useful to the mariuer. Drake knew very little of the American Seas be- 
fore he actually sailed in them; he had nothing more than a broad outline of 
what the Spaniards and Portuguese had accomplished. 

They found the ocean into which they had entered anything but pacific, al- 
though Magellan had so named it. Scarcely had they left the straits behind 
them when they were assailed by a storm which drove them two hundred 
leagues out of their proposed path. It continued for more than a week ; and 
during its course they lost one of their ships, of which they never heard again. 
They made an attempt to anchor as soon as they could recover their course, 
but were driven from the harbor which they sought, and separated from an- 
other of the ships. This one, however, was more fortunate than the first, 
for she made her way back to England. 

This left Drake but three vessels; his own flag-ship, one of fifty tons' bur- 
den, and the pinnace. With these he managed to find anchorage in some of 
the islands that cluster about the southern point of South America; approach- 
ing the shore of one of these islands, a number of natives with long spears 
were seen which proved to be quite friendly. He secured a supply of water 
and "wholesome herbs, which were very serviceable to the sick." For at 
that time a ship that made a long voyage always had more or less scurvy on 
board before that voyage was over. 

From this point they coasted along the western line of South America; we 
may have some idea of the uncertainty of Drake's knowledge of the waters 
where he was sailing, when we read that up to this time the true direction of 
the coast of Chili was not known; Drake was astonished when he found, by a 
series of observations, that its general trend is slightly to the east of north. 



494 



SIK rUANCIS ORAKK, TIIK ELIZABKTHAN NAVKiATOR. 



Anchoring at Mocha Ishmd Nov. 20, Drake, acconipaniod i\v ten of his men, 
went ashore, and met some of the natives, with whom they began trading'. A 
quantity of potatoes and two fat sheep were given the Englishmen in ex- 
change for some of the trifles which they had brought with them, and both 
parties to the transaction retired ecpially well pleased. Two others were scut 
on shore the ne.xt day; but in the meantime some story of the cruelty of tiu' 
Spaniards had reached the ears of the Indians who had so amicably tra(hMl 
with them; and these unfortunate sailors were murdered by them without 
provocation, being mistaken by them for Spaniards 







Drakv: Visits the Islakus ok the South Ska. 

On another occasion such a mistake as this produced more agreeable con- 
.sequences. Sailing along the coast of Chili, they met at one place where they 
anchored a number of the natives, who seemed well disposed toward them. 



SIR I'KANCIS DKAKK, THE ELIZABETHAN NAVIGATOR. 495 

One of these informed them that a large ship, laden for Peru, was then lying 
at Santiago ; ne\er dreaming, poor innocent savage, that these were the sworn 
enemies of the people who manned that Spanish ship. He readily accepted 
a trifle in payment of his services as pilot, and guided them straight to where 
the vessel lay. The crew consisted of eight Spaniards and three negroes. 
Seeing the English vessels approach them, the Spaniards, who did not look 
for enemies in the Pacific, roared out an invitation to the newcomers to come 
and drink with them. It may well be believed that the invitation was not 
declined; the English sailors hastened on board the Spanish ship, seized her 
crew before they had discovered their mistake, and clapped them in irons. 
One of them escaped; and, swimming ashore, gave the alarm to the inhabit- 
ants of the town. 

The daring sea-rovers, however, were prepared for such a case as this, and 
Drake gave the order to put to sea at once. Safely out of the enemy's way, 
they examined their prize, and found they had taken a cargo of gold, to the 
value of nearly a hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Having found the 
value of their prize, Drake returned to the coast and plundered the town. It 
is recorded that he rifled a chapel as well as other buildings; and having se- 
cured as booty from this source a chalice of silver, an altar-cloth, and a few 
other articles used in divine service, presented them to his chaplain. This 
chaplain, though a regular clergyman of the Church of England, did not de- 
cline this present. 

One important item of the booty secured at Santiago was the wine, of which 
a goodly quantity of native manufacture was taken on board. Having set 
his prisoners ashore, Drake bent his course toward Lima, made famous by 
the achievements of Pizarro. 

Three times, before they reached this city, did they land for water. The 
first was in the haven of Coquimbo, where fourteen men were assigned to the 
duty of going ashore for this purpose. Their presence being discovered, a 
foi'ce of three hundred horse and two hundred foot was sent by the town au- 
thorities to attack them; but the alert Englishmen retreated at the first signs 
of the enemy in such numbers, losing only one man. The next day, when a 
number of his conu'ades were sent ashore to bury him, the Spaniards displa}'- 
ed a flag of truce, but Drake decided to have nothing to do with them. 

The second landing for water was uneventful. On the third occasion, at 
Tarapara, they found a Spaniard asleep, who seemed to have been left in 
charge of some treasure; this negligent guard was "eased " of eighteen bars 
of silver, worth four thousand ducats, which lay on the ground beside him ; 
and "this they did with such politeness as not to disturb his repose."' Imag- 
ine that Spaniard's astonishment when he awoke to find his silver gone, and 
no trace of the robbers to be found! A little farther on, they seized eight 
Peruvian sheep, as they styled the llamas, laden with a hundred pound weight 



4!t(i SIH IKANCIS DKAKK, TIIK KUZAliKTIlAN NAVIGATOR. 

of silver each, done up in leather bugs. Having conveyed the silver to their 
ships, they were kind enough to return the animals to the Spaniard and In- 
dian who had been driving them. This silver is worth, at the present day, 
about a hundred and thirty thousand dollars of United States money. 

At Ariea they found three small barks, the crews of which, in false security, 
had gone ashore. The cargo of these consisted, in part, of about twelve 
hundred pounds of silver in wedges. Not being strong enough to attack the 
lown, tiicy now put to sea. 

In the harbor of Lima they found a fleet of twelve ships, the masters and 
most of the sailors of which had gone on shore, thinking their vessels en- 
tirely safe. Drake's men helped themselves to the silks and linens with which 
these were loaded, and then went in pursuit of a treasure-ship which had re- 
cently sailed from Lima bound for Panama. "While in chase of this vessel 
they came up with another, which they rifled of eighty pounds of fine gold, 
besides a large crucifix, mach; of gold and adorned with valuable emeralds. 
Their original game was then pursued with fresh vigor; and they descried her 
off Cape San Francisco, near which they overtook and boar<lcd her. She 
yielded eighty pounds of g(dd and twenty-six tons of silver in bars — an 
amount of bullion worth, at the present day, nearly a million of dollars. Be- 
sides this they secured a large quantity of jewels, the Aalue of which is not 
readily calculated. 

They dismissed this vessel to continue her journey to Panama; having first 
suppli(>d the captain and crew with some linen; 1)ut whether from the cargo 
of that ship which they had recently rifled, history does not say. Their kind- 
ness was rewarded, as they thought, by their speedily coming up with another 
vessel, from which they secured some booty, and the pilot of which they took 
on board their own flag-ship to guide them along the coast. 

He conducted them to the town of Ciuatulco, where, as he informed them, 
there were but seventeen Spaniards, all told. Doubtful, however, of the 
truth of this information, Drake went ashore with some of his men, and 
maiched to the public building where court was then in session. Some ne- 
groes had conspired to tire the town, and had just been tried for it; they 
were found guilty, and the judge was about to pronounce sentence when 
Drake and his men entered, and seized and carried off to his ships judge, 
prisoners, and s|)ectators. The captive judge was required to write to his 
,;)wnsmen, bidding them permit the Englishmen to water their vessels in 
peace. His orders were obeyed; and the P^nglishmen, having obtained a sup- 
ply of water, improved their op})ortunity, as usual, by searching the town for 
plunder. They found nothing but " a bushel of reals," rather an indefinite 
expression of quantity or value to those who are not accustomed to measur- 
ing money in this way. 

Drake l^egan to think that he had done enough to revenge his private in- 



MU FRANCIS DRAKE, THE Kl.lZAlJETIIAX NAVIGATOR. 4'.I7 

juries, aud to retaliate upon the enemies of his country those misfortunes 
which they had inflicted upon England ; and so it seems to us, as we read the 
account of his exploits. It now became necessary to consider his best route 
homeward. To return by way of the Straits of Magellan would be to dare 
great danger; for the Spaniards, should they discover his intentions, would 
certainly send enough vessels there to dispute his passage through the nar- 
row channel; and he seems to have had no notion of roundingCape Horn. 
He therefore decided that his safest, if not his quickest route, lay across the 
Pacific, by way of the Moluccas, around the Cape of Good Hope, and thence 
to Old England; and this was the course that he resolved to take. 

He had now lost the two smaller vessels, and had but the one remaining. 
Perhaps this was one reason why he decided to abandon his attacks upon the 
Spanish shipping, and retreat from the vessels with which they might pursue 
him. His proposed course lay directly across the Pacific ; for he had reached 
a point a little north of the equator; but there was no wind — the vessel lying 
in the equatorial belt of calms — and the great ocean river which here made its 
influence felt is a current which sets from west to east. Had the course of 
the currents been bettor known, Drake would undoubtedly have steered to 
the southward for a few degrees, and been swept across the Pacific by the 
current which runs counter to that in which he found himself. 

With considerable difficulty, and by taking advantage of every breath 
of wind, they managed to escape from the belt of calms and from the 
unfavorable current. But in so doing they had entered that other current, 
scarcely more favorable to their purpose, which sweeps along the western 
coast of North America from the Isthmus of Panama to Bohring Bay. 
Borne onward by this, and retarded by unfavorable winds, they were nearly 
two months at sea before they saw land; and then the cold winds which 
blew seaward did not permit them to anchor for some time. 

The white cliffs which he saw here reminded the homesick Englishman 
strongly of the white cliffs of Dover, whence England derived lier classical 
name of Albion, "the white," and suggested to him the name of New Albion, 
as a designation for this part of the continent. 

The place where they landed was a well sheltered bay, about forty-three de- 
grees north of the equator. This was about three degrees farther north than 
uny white man had yet penetrated, sailing along the Pacific coast of America; 
for, about forty years before, a Spaniard named Cabrillo had reached Cape 
Mendocino, and then turned back toward the more congenial southern lands. 
Since then none had passed this point; for the Spaniards had much to do to 
hold and settle the warm and fertile countries which were already known to 
them; and they had not heard any stories of gold or other treasure to be 
found in the far North, such as they had seized upon in Mexico and Peru. 

Drake continued his voyage as far as the forty-eighth parallel; then, 
.32 



498 



<IK KK.VN( IS DKAKi;. Illi: KLIZAUKTIIAX NAVUiATOK. 



alarmed by thu fact that although this was the suniiuer season, the cokl was 
severe, he turnecl southward, and spent sonic time in an inlet which was either 
iSari Francisco 15ay or that opening which is still known as Sir Francis 
Drake's Bay. Authorities differ as to the inlet in which he anchored for in- 
tercourse with the natives, })ut the probabilities are in favor of that which 
bears his name. 




IXI>IAS SlAIKINC, DKKH. 

He found the people well disposed toward him: a pretty sure sign that the 
Spaniards had not yet made their influence felt in this part of the country; 
since their cruelties were usually such as to incense the Indians against all 
white men. Presents were exchanged, consisting on the one side of toys and 
other trifles, on the other of feather-work, curious feathers, and tobacco; 
with the uses of the tobacco the Europeans were as yet wholly unacquainted. 

After such preliminaries as these, Drake judged it safe to land and estab- 
lish a camp; for his men had been confined to the narrow limits of the deck 



SIR FRANCIS DRAKE, THE ELIZABETHAN NAVIGATOR. 499 

for many months, and it was a great relief to be once more on land. Tents 
were pitched at the base of a small hill, therefore, and a certain force being 
detailed to guard the ship, and regularly relieved, those not employed in this 
duty were permitted to recreate themselves on shore. 

It was while they were thus encamped that Drake saw the natives gather- 
ing about him, loaded with presents. Gradually thev arranged themselves 
in some sort of order, and one of them, stationed on the top of the hill, 
delivered a long harangue, evidently addressed to the Admiral, although, of 
course, not one word of it was understood. This concluded, the orator 
descended, attended by his companions, who had laid down their arms, and 
made new demonstrations of friendship. 

The women, who had remained at the top of the hill, howled and tore 
their hair; finally, the men returned, and indulged in the same i^roceed- 
ings. Other mysterious ceremonies seemed to show that they were engaged 
in worshij) of one of their gods; and Drake, to show the difference between 
heathen and Christian worship, commanded that his chaplain should hold 
service in front of his tent. The Indians gathered about in curiosity, and 
seemed to show both interest and respect. 

A few days later two embassadors came to see the Admiral, one of whom 
made a long speech. From this the Englishmen gathered that the king, as 
they styled the chief of this tribe, was coming to visit them; and their sur- 
mise proved to be right. It is amusing to read, in the old accounts, how the 
chronicler applies to this savage chief, clad in rabbit-skins and crowned with 
feathers, the terms wiiich they were accustomed to apply to the Majesty of 
England, robed in state, and attended by the peers of the realm. Thus we 
find that the Admiral drew up his forces in military order to receive them, 
while the " sceptre-bearer " halted at some distance outside the enclosure 
in which the Englishmen stood and delivered along speech; which must 
have been truly edifying, since the persons to whom it was addressed could 
not understand a word. This official was followed by the main part of the 
procession, in which, of course, the king was the most conspicuous figure; 
when he had ceased speaking, he began to sing, and then to dance; and the 
whole royal party joined in the performance. When " king, lords and com- 
mons," according to the division which the narrator makes of this Indian 
tribe, had thus entertained their hosts, the chief made several speeches, none 
of which were understood, except as to their general tenor, which seemed to 
be friendly. 

Uncertain of the real intentions of the natives, Drake had caused a line of 
earthworks to be thrown up about his camp; and it was within this defence 
that his men had been drawn up to receive their guests. Feeling sure now, 
however, that the Indians were well disposed, and that no treachery was in- 
tended, he invited some of them inside this line. Here the king, still further 



500 SIR FRANCIS DRAKE, THE ELIZABETHAN NA\ HiATOR. 

to show his friontlly feeling, surrendered to Drake, as tiie Enjilislmien under- 
stood, his dominions; and taking the crown from his own head, phiced it up- 
on tlio white chief's brow, in sign of his investment with the royal power. 

These west-coast Indians seeni to have thought, like those of the islands to 
the east of the continent, that the white strangers had descended from the 
skies; for they made several attempts to worship them, offering them sacri- 
fices more than once; and it was with somedifficulty that they were prevented 
from continuing these efforts. 

Drake, with some of his people, explored the surrounding country forashoit 
distance, finding it well stoc^ked with largo deer and with the rabbits whoso 
skins formed such an important article of dress with the natives. "These 
Indians," says Drake, "arc very expert in the use of the bow and arrow, and 
their skill in capturing the deer is wonderful. We saw an Indian with a stag's 
head over his own, walking on all fours, appearing to graze, and carrying out 
the pantomine with such truth to life that our hunters would have fired at 
him at thirty paces had they not been prevented. By this means the natives 
approach quite close to a herd of deer, and then kill them with arrows." 
But his men Avere imi:)atient to reach home again, and no considerable ex- 
ploration wasattempted. He caused a pillar to be erected, on which was fixed 
a plate, engraved with the name and arms of the Queen, his own name, and 
a record of his discovery and of the supposed transfer by the chief of these 
dominions to the use of the sovereign of England. 

Having procured a considerable stock of such provisions as the country af- 
forded, Drake set sail from California July 28, 1570. His departure was 
the cause of great regret to the natives, who made manj- demonstrations of 
sorrow as they saw bis preparations and understood their meaning; and sig- 
nalized his sailing by sacrificial fires all along the coast. 

Drake's first intention, after leaving the American coast, was to sail to the 
northward and seek a passage to China in that way; probably having some 
idea of finding that Northwest Passage which afterward was sought, with such 
cost of blood and treasure, by so many navigators. 

Drake and his men seem to have had much more regard for their own com- 
fort than the later Arctic explorers; for when they found that it was becom- 
ing colder and colder, and that the sun was daily going farther south, they 
did iit sea what they had done along the coast — went southward, to seek a 
pleasanter climate. 

October 13, they landed at the Ladrones; andat first were inclined to think 
the natives as nice people as they ever dealt with. But it was not long before 
they understood why Magellan had so named these islands; the natives stole 
everj'thing that they could lay their hands on, and could not be persuaded or 
compelled to restore anything of which they had once obtained jjossession. 

The English finally refused to deal with them, and forbatle them to come 



SIR FRANCIS DRAKK, THE ELIZABETHAN NAVIGATOR. 



501 



to the ship. This enraged them so that they threw immense stouos- at the 
vessel, and were not stopped until she discharged one gun at them. Fairly 
" scared out of their wits " by this discharge, they leaped from their canoes 
into the water, and swam under the surface to land, towing their boats as 
they went, but not looking behind them. This firing was the parting salute, 
for the ship shortly afterward sailed on her course. 




DuAKii'.s Akkival at Ternate. 

They landed at several islands, but did not stop long at any until they came 
to Ternate, where they were received with much ceremony and treated with 
much kindness by the Mohammedan ruler. They traded at several islands, 
procuring those spices which were so valued in Europe and which formed, in 
the minds of Europeans of that date, no small item of the wealth of the golden 
East; and although they came near sinking their ship by running upon a rock, 
escaped all material damage, and set sail for the Cape of Good Hope March 
1(5, l.i80. Themiddlcof June they doubledthecape, coming so close to shore 
that they might easily have made land had they wished it. It was full time 
for them to get back to England, for the number of men had diminished to 
fifty-seven; their provisions were low, and they had but three casks of water 
on board. Under ordinary (n'rcumstances they could easily have procured 
water, being so near laud ; but all the coast of Africa was claimed by the Port- 



502 



SIK FKANCIS UKAKK, TIIK Kl.lZABKTIlAN NAVIOATOK. 



iigucsc; and, since Portugal was tlieii a province of Spain, this was territory 
where Drake, of all iiion, was little likcl}' to tind assistance of any kind. 

At Sierra Leone, however, they were obliged to stop for water, and pio- 
cured also a supply of lemons, so useful where scurvy is to be feared, and 
of oysters. 




KxiciiriNO oi' DiiAKK HY Qi'KEN' Emzauktii. 

August 2(i they passed the Canaries withoutstopping; and one month later 
arrived at IMymouth, having been gone two years and ten months. The day 
of the week, according to the people who bad remained at home, was Mon- 
day, the 2()th; according to the reckoning of the sailors, it was Sunday, the 
25th. It was concludctl that thoy had lost one day in their reckoning, for 



SIK FRANCIS DRAKE, THK ELIZABETHAN NAVKiATOR. 503 

they did not take into account that in sailing around the world from east to 
west we must, at some point in our travels, add one day to theaccount. Such 
particulars were only taken into consideration after the world had been cir- 
cumnavigated oftener. For although the fleet of Magellan had achieved this 
feat lv)ng before, Drake was the first Englishman who circumnavigated the 
globe; and, as we have before said, information was not readily transmitted 
from one country to another in that time. 

Drake was received with great honors; and it was considered that, by dis- 
covering and taking possession of New Albion, he had rendered great service 
to the Crown. It was in reward for this service that Queen Elizabeth paid 
him the high honor of visiting him on board the vessel which had borne him 
on his long voyage; and it was on the occasion of this voyage that she confer- 
red on him the compliment of Knighthood. 

Here, properly speaking, ends the history of Drake as connected with the 
New World; but his achievements in Old World history are so splendid a 
part of his career, that we should be doing an injustice to leave the subject 
here. Let it be remembered then, that while we briefly review these events 
and actions, they formed by far the larger portion of his famous deeds; but 
still, the foundations of his fame were laid by what he had done on the Span- 
ish Main and the West Coast of America. 

As a kind of half-way place between his New World and Old World ex- 
ploits, we find him, in l.i8.5, commissioned by the Queen as Admiral and 
Commander-in-Chief, by sea and land, of an expedition against the West 
Indies. Twenty-five ships were placed at his disposal; and the towns of San 
Domingo and Carthagena were captured and held for ransom, after the cus- 
tom of the time; while Fort St. John, Florida, was demolished, and the 
neighboring settlements of St. Augustine and St. Helena burned. After 
these successes they touched at the coast of Virginia, and took on board 
those colonists whom Sir Walter Raleigh had been instrumental in sending 
out, the year before, and who were only too anxious to get back to England. 
It was now that Drake's men learned the use of that plant which the Indi- 
ans of the Far West had given them as a sort of tribute; and the use of to- 
bacco was introduced into England by the example of those knights and 
gentlemen who affected interest in America. 

Ten months after sailing they were back in England. It may be thought 
that Drake had now accomplished enough to enable him to rest in safety and 
honor for the remainder of his days; but he was full of untiring energy. 
In the spring of 1587, less than nine months after his return from Virginia, 
we find him sailing to Cadiz, where he captured, in a single day's engage- 
ment, thirty-eight sail, most of which he burned or sunk. These vessels 
were then engaged in transporting provisions and stores for that great Ar- 
mada which the King of Spain was busily fitting out for the entire destruc- 



I 



SIR FRANCIS DRAKE, THE ELIZABETHAN NAVIGATOR. 50.j 

tion of the P]nglish people. The success of Drake, followed as it was by the 

capture of other ships belonging to the Spanish Government, was somewhat 

disheartening to the promoters of this great plan. 

At last the great fleet was prepared; and hundreds of ships, laden with — 

" The richest spoils of Mexico, 

The stoutest hearts of Spain." 

sailed under the command of the Duke of ]\Iedina Sidonia, one of the great- 
est of Spanish nobles. England was aroused from one end to the other, 
thoroughly alarmed at the danger which threatened her. But the sailors who 
defended her were assisted by a Power higher than their own; for although 
there was a conflict between a small portion of the Spanish fleet and those 
English ships which were under the command of Drake, by far the greater 
portion of this vast armament was destroyed by a tempest, which scattered 
the ships, drove them upon the rocky coasts, or compelled them to return, 
disabled, to Spain. 

We have spoken of the success achieved by Drake in this affair. He had 
been appointed Vicc-Admiral of the fleet, and it was his fortune to engage 
with the Spaniard who held the same rank. When the Castilian learned the 
name of his opponent, he caused his flag to be struck, saying that he surren- 
dered to the fortune of Drake, whose courage and generosity not even his 
bitterest enemies could deny. Was there ever a better instance than this of 
reputation already gained serving instead of later exertions? 

In 1589, the year after the defeat of the Armada, England sent a fleet to 
attempt the restoration of the King of Portugal and to assist in securing the 
independence of that kingdom. The land forces which were to co-operate 
with this fleet were under the command of Sir John Norris, while Drake was 
Admiral of the Fleet. But they differed so frequently about the course to be 
pursued that the whole expedition proved to be a failure. 

The war between England and Spain continued for a number of years, and 
in 150.5 England determined to lit out a larger and more formidable expedition 
against the Spanish settlements in the West Indies than had ever yet been 
attempted. Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Hawkins were connnissioned as 
the joint leaders of this expedition, which sailed from Plymouth August 28, 
1595. The fleet consisted of six of the Queen's vessels, twenty fitted out by 
private enterprise, for a shhre in the profits which were confidently expected, 
with a force of about two thousand five hundred men. Here, again, however, 
there were disagreements between the two commanders of equal rank and 
authority; and the result was practically a failure. 

Sir John Hawkins was taken sick sometime after they reached the Spanish 
Main and died as they approached Porto Rico. Nov. 12, the day of his death, 
the fleet was fired upon from the town near which it was, and several officers 
were wounded as they sat at supper with the Admiral ; Drake himself had his 



5U() 



.sll{ 1-KANClS DKAKK, THK KLIZAIJKTHAN NAVKIATOK. 



stool shot from under him at the same time. Maddened l)y this attack, the 
fleet set upon the Spanish ships lying in the harbor with such violence that 
five of them were speedily destroyed. Three days later the body of Sir John 
Hawkins, and that of Sir Nicholas Clifford, who had been one of those 
wounded in tiie cabin and had died of his injuries, were buried at sea. 




Sn{ John Hawkins. 
The next day they left Porto Kico and sailed for the continent: here the 
town of Rio de la Ilacha was captured and put to ransom for twenty-four 
thousand ducats, to be paid in pearls. The Sjianiards agreed to this; but 
when it came to paying for the town, held their pearls at so high a price as 
practically to refuse the amount promised. Drake, believing that they only 
wished to gain time, ordered the town to be burned, and his orders were at 
once obeyed. 



SIR FRANCIS DRAKE, TIIK i;i,l/AKKTHAN NAVUiATOi;. 



.iU; 



Several other towns along the coast were burned, the most noteworthy 
being IS'ombre de Dies, where a great deal of valuable treasure became the 
booty of the assailants. 

Having done this injury to the coast towns of the enemy, Drake dispatched 
Sir Thomas Baskerville, M'ith seven hundred and fifty men, on an overland 
expedition to Panama, where it was thought that a considerable amount of 




Sir Francis Drake. 

treasure was held, awaiting a safe time to send it across the isthmus and 
thence to Spain. But the difficulties of the journey through the unknown 
and scarcely passable tropical forest, added to the determination with which 
the Spaniards, posted everywhere in ambush, disputed their way, disheart- 
ened the command before they had completed half the distance. At length 
they came to a naiTow pass which was so stubbornly defended that they wei'e 
obliged to retreat; and they returned to their ships without further effort. 



SIK FKANCIS DliAKi;. TIIH ELIZAUETHAN NA\ IGATOfi. 509 

Disappointed at the outconu- of this expedition, Drake gave orders to set 
sail from that coast, since he had there accomplished all that he could hope 
to do. The fleet accordingly stood out to sea and went to the island of Es- 
cudo, where they took in Mater and spent some days recruiting their sick. 
From this point they intended to go to Porto Bello, and arriveil in sight of 
it January 28, 1596. 

But the Admiral lay sick when they sailed from Escudo; and the days did 
not bring him strength. It had been observed that he sank from daj' to day, 
from hour to hour, and just as tlie lookout gave the wortl that land was in 
sight, he died. 

"With him expired the very soul of this expedition," says the old-time 
writer; and the after history bears out this assertion. The command devolved 
upon Sir Thomas Baskerville, and after the bold leader in so many sea- 
ventures had received a sailor's burial, with such honors as were due to the 
Iiigh position which his courage, enterprise and ability had won for him, this 
commander of the fleet gave orders to sail for home. 

"Honored and esteemed by his sovereign, whom he served with courage 
and fidelity, * * * it is certain that the disappointments he met with in this 
last voyage, which he imagined in some measure stained his glory, sat heav^y 
on his swelling heart and contributed to shorten his days." 




CHAPTER XVIII. 
JOHN DAVIS, THE SECOND GREAT ARCTIC NAVIGATOR. 

Character of Davis^^Sails from England — Reaches (freenland — Among tlie Icebergs— The 
Land of DesoUition — " iMusic hath Charms " — Exchange of Presents— Exploring Davis tStrait 
— Esquimau Dogs— Return to England — Second Voyage — Friendly Intercourse with Greeu- 
landers — A Misunderstanding — Thieving — Hostilities — Coasting to Lalirador — Return to 
England — His Third Voyage — Fishing and Exploring — Northern Limit of Exploration — 
Terrible (!onditioii of Davis — Arrival in England — Lack of Interest in Explorations — Reasons 
— Cavendish's Two Voyages — Davis Sails with Him — Return — Other Voyages — His Death. 

K have seen liow Frobislier led the way in the search for a North- 
west Passage to the goklen lands of the far East ; other daring ad- 
venturers were to follow in his footsteps, until it should be fle-arly . 
demonstrated, not that this passage has no actual existence, but that it is 
practically useless for purposes of navigation. The first prominent fol- 
lower of Frobisher was John Davis. 

The date of his birth is unknown; nor are there any records of his boy- 
hood and youth. He was a native of Sandridge, a smalltown about three 
miles north of Dartmouth, in the County of Devon, England. He was nat- 
urally of a lively disj)osition, fond of music and recreations of all kinds, and 
a believer in their favorable influence upon the character. He does not seem 
to have belonged to the party which was then beginning to rise into promin- 
ence, and which afterward, under the nickname of the Puritans, exerted so 
much influence upon English history; but he possessed the same indomit- 
able will which sent the prescril)ed Puritans to seek a shelter in the New 
World, and made them successful in their efforts to found settlements. 

The results of Frobisher's \oyages had been regarded as unsatisfactory, 
since he had neither found gold in the lands which he had actually reached, 
nor a short and easy passage to the rich countries which lay beyond. These 
failures, however, did not convince the English that gold was not to be 
found, or that the Northwest Passage would prove as elusive. Davis, whose 
reputation as an able and determined seaman had been acquired in shorter 
voyages, and under the command of others, was anxious to prove himself 
as great a navigator as Drake or Frobisher; and finally succeeded in ob- 
taining the command of two vessels, the Sunshine and the Moonshine, for 
the purpose of exploring the northern coast of North America and finding 
both the precious metal and the wished-for passage to India. 

Sailing from Dartmouth June 7, 1585, it was a month before they reached 
the arctic seas. A great river of icy salt water sweeps down from the Pole 
between Iceland and Greenland, and on this their vessel was borne along to 
the southwest of the point where they had enteied it; their course since l*»av- 

(610) 



JOHN DAVIS, THE SECOND GREAT ARCTIC NAVIGATOR. .'ill 

iug England having been almost directly northwest. They saw no signs of 
land; for the sea, although calm, was covered with a thick mist, through 
which no eye could penetrate; but the roaring of the waves indicated that a 
coast was near by. Davis gave orders that a boat should be lowered at once ; 
and, accompanied by the master of the vessel and a sufficient number of the 
crew, they put off from the ship to the land. 

The little boat pulled away into the mist, over the unknown sea, in search 
of the land upon which the waves were breaking; but none was found. In- 
stead, the daring mariners beheld vast mountains of ice, rolling and beating 
against one another, whilethe waves dashed upon them as upon a rocky coast. 
AVith intinite labor and danger, Davis succeeded in effecting a landing upon 
one of these icebergs; and, having chopped off several large pieces of the 
ice and loaded the boat with it, they returned to the waiting vessels. It sur- 
prised and delighted the sailors that the ice from these sea-mountains should 
be convertible into good water by the simple process of melting; and the 
mention of this fact shows that it was previously unknown even to the leader 
of the expedition. 

The daj' after sighting the icebergs, the mist having lifted, they sawthe coast, 
whit'h they thus describe: — 

"Deformed, rocky, and mountainous, like a sugar-loaf, standing to our 
sight above the clouds. It towered through the fog like a white mist in the 
sky, the tops altogether covered with snow, the shore beset with ice, making 
such irksome noise that it was called the Land of Desolation." 

The coast which received this forbidding name was the southwestern shore 
of Greenland — a strange contrast to the name which the saguine Icelander 
who first discovered this body of land had bestowed upon it. They were un- 
able to approach the shore very closely on account of the floating ice ; and 
Davis pushed out northward into the open sea. 

Several days afterward, being driven from his westward course by unfavor- 
able winds, he once more came in sight of land, another part of the coast of 
Greenland; and here the ice was more solid, so that he was not prevented 
from landing. Two sailors were selected by him to accompany him, while the 
others were to follow if a certain signal should be given. 

The three men entered the boat and pushed off to land. They reached the 
shore; and, securingtheir boat, they mounted ahigh rock which overhungthe 
beach. While they were here busied in looking about them they were espied, 
by a number of the natives, who at once raised loud cries apparently of fear 
and distress. 

But Davis had foreseen that the natives would be afraid of him and his 
men, and was ready to reassure them. Not only had he caused such gifts to 
be placed on board the vessels as were usually taken on exploring expeditions 
for presents to the savage natives, but he had brought, for the comfort of 



■'■- .rOIIN DAVIS, TIIK SKCOND ORKAT ARCTIC NAVIGATOR. 

hiiiLsolf and liis moil :is well, a band of music. lie now dctcniiinea U) try 
whctlicr, as afterward was tleclared, " Music hath charms to soothe the sav- 
age breast." He sipnalcd to liis men to join him; and, as they landed, the 
band began to phiy. 

The attention of the natives l)eing thus fixed upon the wliite men, signs ex- 
pressive of f ricndsliip were made, and the Esquimaux gradually drew nearer. 
Nor were the first that they had seen all who heard tiie strange sounds; from 
every point they gathered, and no less than ten canoes put off from Ihe sur- 
rounding islands, to visit the newcomers. Gloves, stockings, and caps werei 
distributed among them as presents, and finally their fears seemed to be al- 
■ layod. 

Davis and his men returned lo their ships for the night and the natives ap- 
parently <lispersed to their distant dwellings. Early the next morning, ho\V- 
ever, the sailors saw their canoi'S dotting the water, and no less than thirty- 
seven appeared between the shi[)s and the land. B3' every sign which they 
could devise, the natives invited the strangers to come on shore again ; and 
received (hem with many marks of respect and liking when (he invitation M'as 
accepled. 

The gifts which tiie white men brought from their great ships were received 
with wonder and gratitude; and the Escjuimaux hastened to show their ap- 
preciation by offering presents in re(urn. But the}' thought the products of 
their cold and barren land insufficient to repay the newcomers for these won- 
derful articles; and they offered their sealskin and birdskin clothes, their 
leather moccasins, their darts, their oars, and, at last, five of their canoes. 
When they saw the value which the Englishmen appeared to set upon the furs 
and skins, they promised to bring more the next day; and would doubtless 
have fulfilled their promise — it seems to require some degree of civilization 
for a man (o be regardless of his word, — but, the wind becoming favorable. 
Davis resolved to continue his voyage, an<l ditl not again land on this part of 
the coast. 

The wind, almost directly from thecast, bore him across the strait to which 
his own name has since been given, to the shore of that island which is vari- 
ously called Baffin Land or Cumberland Island. Here he sighted an eminence 
to which he gave the name of Mount liaieigh, in honor of the great courtier 
to whom, j)robably, he owed much of the interest which the Government had 
shown in his undertaking. He continued coastingfor several days and reached 
at length that cai)e which is now called Albert, but which, with the devotion 
of a mariner of those early days, he called The Cape of God's Mercy. The 
name is a memento of his mistake; for he thought that the passage just to 
the south of this cape was the long-sought passage to India. 

He explored the inlet — for such we now know it to be — for several days; 
finding it free from ice and with many of the characteristics of the open sea. 



JOHN UAVIS, THE SECOND GREAT ARCTIC KAVIGATOK. 51o 

As they iiroceeded they heard on an island a sound resembling the howling 
t)f dogs; and presently a pack of twenty gaunt and wolf-liko dogs came in 
sight. To the crew it seemed clear that none but beasts of prey could be 
found here; and they fired upon the dogs, killing two, and scaring off the 
others. They landed for a short time, to see what was the true nature of the 
animals they had killed; and to their surprise, found that a collar was about 
the neck of one. Some distance away they found the sledge to which they 
had been yoked; but, perhaps fortunately for them, since they had unwit- 
tingly committed this ravage, they saw nothing of the natives. 

For some time they proceeded up the Inlet, but thick fogs gathered about 
them, continuing apparently without hope of lifting, and the winds proved 
contrary. Judging that these were the natural conditions in that latitude at 
that season of the year — for the autumn was now advancing — Davis deter- 
mined to return to a warmer climate before the actual approach of winter; 
and set sail for England. 

Nothing had been actually accomplished by this voyage; but great hopes 
were excited at home. The interest of the Government continued; and it 
was resolved to send the intrepid navigator again, with the same vessels that 
had been given him on the previous trip, and, in addition, one of a hundred 
and twenty tons, called the 3Iermaid, another boat, and a pinnace. 

The voyage across the Atlantic was accomplished without difficulty or delay; 
it was only when they came actually in sight of the southern point of Green- 
land that they were beset by storms, which prevented their landing for sev- 
eral days. Again the natives uttered their cries of fear; but at last, recog- 
nizing their former visitors, changed their tune to one of rejoicing and 
welcome. Davis, hoping to improve the acquaintance, and anxious to gain 
the continued friendship of the natives, went onshore and made presents of 
about twenty knives to those who seemed to be chiefs or leading men; refus- 
ing to accept anything in I'eturn. 

Some time was now spent in friendly intercourse with the natives, and 
sailors and Esquimaux delighted to display to each other their proficiency in 
those manly sports which seem to be common to all nations. In leaping and 
wrestling, it was difficult to decide which was the better man; though while 
the strangers could frequently leap farther than their hosts, they were some- 
times thrown by them when it came to wrestling. 

As the sailors returned to the ships at the close of each of such days of 
intercourse, the natives had no means of becoming acquainted with the do- 
mestic arts which they practiced, and thought to show them something new 
and strange when they rubbed together two sticks and produced fire. Evi- 
dently thinking that the strangers had no knowledge of flame, and that a 
trick could be easily played upon them, they gravely invited Davis to pas3 
through it. But the Englishman of the sixteenth century not only believed in 



•t14 JOHN UAVI^, TICK SECOND tJKEAT ARCTIC NAVKiATOR. 

witches — lie know that the^' existed ; and the man who invited him to pass 
through lire must be a sorcerer. In order to (k-stroy any evil spell which 
these small and hardy strangers might be trying to cast upon him, he ordered 
his seamen at once to tread out the fire, and to cast the coals into the sea. 

This misunderstanding of their meaningdoes not seem to have excited the 
enmity of the natives, and they continued on friendly terms with the sail- 
oi"s. Kut the latter complained to their leader that the savages stole every- 
thing that they could lay their hands upon; articles n)adc of iron or steel, 
especially. A spear, a gun, and a sword were thus pilfered; and as these 
thefts did not meet with punishment, they cut the cables of the ships, and 
even stole the boat from the stern of the Moovi<hine. 

Davis, who did not care to appear as complainant at this time, allowed liis 
officers to remonstrate with the thieves, who came on board the vessels with 
the boldness of conscious innocence or the most hardened and shameless 
guilt; they did not seem to be at all impressed by what the officers said, and 
managed to steal something else as they left the vessels. Two shots were 
tired after them, aimed over their heads, and they fled in utter confusion. 

Soon afterward, however, they returned, in company with others, offering 
])resents, and making many promises by signs. For a day or so, everything 
was lovely; then iron articles were missed as before, and the sailors again 
complained to the leader. Davis, however, seems to have had a very clear 
idea of the difference between the cultivated and the uncultivated moral 
sense, and declined to inflict any punishment upon the savages. lie merely 
bade his crew keep a close watch on their goods and not deal hardly with the 
ignorant natives. 

Anxious to explore the interior, he now sailed up what he thought was a 
broad river, but which proved to be an arm of the sea. A violent squall 
compelled him to seek the shelter of the land; and he attempted to climb a 
considerable elevation in order to see farther about him. In this, however, 
he was foiled by the violence of the storm, which still continued; and from 
his perch on the side of the hill he watched the formation and progress of a 
water-spout, the first he had ever seen, veteran navigator as he was. This 
lasted for three hours. He describes it as a mighty Mhirlwind which took up 
the water and whisked it around for this length of time without intermission. 

Re-embarking the following day, he proceeded further up the channel, but 
found that it was intersected by various passages between different islands, 
which were neither inhabited nor tillable. 

This expedition had been made iu the pinnace, the leader being accompa- 
nied only by a small body of picked men. On his return to the larger vessels 
he found serious news awaiting him; the natives had shown themselves act- 
ually hostile. Not only had they continued their depredations, stealing an 
anchor, cutting the cables, and similar outrages, but they had taken to throw- 



.lOHN DA\IS, THE SKCOMJ (iUKAT AK< TIC ^A\U;AT01!. 515 

mg large and heavy stones against the Moonshine. Davis had his suspicions 
that his men had not beliaved with the wisdom of Solomon and the patience 
of Job; but, without accusing them of having treated the natives unkindly, 
told them that if they would but have a little patience, the ignorant savages 
would doubtless soon become tired of this mode of proceeding. 

He himself endeavored to win the natives over by every possible means. 
Among other things, he invited a large party of them onboard, taught them to 
run to the top-mast, made them various trifling presents, and dismissed them, 
evidently much pleased. 

But this was only a temporary peace which he purchased ; for when evening 
came they again threw stones at the vessel, one of them knocking down the 
boatswain. Patience had ceased to be a virtue when they could thus repay 
his efforts to make friends; and Davis ordered that two boats should pursue 
the offenders. They were in their own light and swift canoes, however, and 
defied pursuit by the heavier and clumsier English boats. 

But their impudence was not to be deterred from visiting those whom they 
thus assaulted. Two or three days later a party of five of them visited the 
ships, one of whom, the master of the Moonshine declared, had been the 
ringleader in all the attacks upon his vessel. Davis gave orders that this 
Esquimaux should be held a prisoner; and he was actually carried off by the 
Englishmen. He was well treated, however, though constantly under the 
watchful eye of the commander, and became contented in his strange sur- 
roundings, proving to be a pleasant companion to the sailors, and sometimes 
a good assistant. 

Sailing to the north, the sailors descried a vast assemblage of hills, capes, 
and bays; but a closer view showed it to be merely an irregular mass of ice. 
The ropes, shrouds, and sails became stiff with the frozen spray, and the sea- 
men urged the commander to return at once. Such remonstrances were not 
easily disregarded in those days, for the crews of these exploring vessels, as 
the reader has probably discovered by this time, were never under very strict 
discipline, and occasionally took the liberty of running things to suit them- 
selves. Davis, however, who seems to have retained the affection of his men, 
no matter what hardships he asked them to share, compromised with them; 
and, leaving the majority at the point to which they had now advanced, pro- 
ceeded with the Moonshine and a number of his bravest and most adventur- 
ous men to explore the surrounding seas and the adjacent lands. 

He reached land at about the point where the Arctic Circle crosses the 
coast of Cumberland Island, and continued coasting southwai'dfor about ten 
degrees, becoming entangled among the islands, masses of ice, and numerous 
narrow passages M'hich beset his way, so that, although he reached the coast 
of Labrador, he failed to see the entrance to that great bay which now bears 
the name of a later navigator, Hudson. Reaching Labrador, he sent ashore 



,")lli .KIUN I>\\1S, 'I'lll': SKCONl) CKICAI' AlU TIC N A VK; ATOK. 

:i party of five men to explore the country and i)iecure supplies of water; 
but tliey were beset by the natives with such fury that one of tliein was killed 
and the others were glad to return to the ship. 

It was now the close of the summer, and, fearing to l)e caught in these 
high latitudes and coltl climates during the short days of winter, he returned 
to the other ships, and the three vessels set sail for England. 

They arrived in October, 1586. Nothing more had been accomplished on 
this second than on the first voyage; and enthusiastic hopes of what might 
be done seemed to have died down. Davis found no strong friends at court, 
ready and anxious to dispatch him on a third voyage of discovery; and it 
was only by earnest entreaty that he could get the authorities to listen to him 
at all. Ho promised that there should be no real expense attending a tjiird 
expedition, for the cost of fitting it out could be readily defrayed by fishing. 
He had one friend, whom he does not name; but whom we may presume to 
have had considerable influence atcourt, since his petition was at last granted, 
and two vessels, the <Sun.s/iine and the Elizahelh, with a pinnace, were made 
ready for a third voyage. 

On arriving at the coast previously visited, and which seems to have been 
regarded as a starting-point for discoveries, they found the natives as friendly 
and as thievish as ever. They had learned by experience, however, to watch 
them constantly; and a few judicious discharges of their fire-arms so terrified 
the thieves that they were not nmch troubled thereafter. 

Davis determined to leave the two larger vessels to fish, in accordance with 
his promise to pay the expenses of the expedition by this means, while he 
went on a voyage of discovery in the pinnace. 

Hanging the coast to the northward, he reached a point more than sevent}-- 
two degrees from the equator, nearer the pole than any navigator of the Amer- 
ican coast had ever yet been ; for it has only been by slow degrees, and with 
incalculable expenditure of treasure and human life in the midst of hardships, 
that the two centuries after Davis' time have seen discovery pushed ten de- 
grees nearer the pole than he was able to j)enetrate. 

Finding a wide open sea still to the uoilh and west, he determined to find 
the limit of navigation; and proceeded across it for the distance of forty 
leagues. Then he was stopped, not by the sight of land, but by the vast 
fields of ice which had before barred his progress. He first endeavored to 
round this by the north, but finding no passage turned to the south, beating 
about unsuccessfully for several days. Trying an apparent opening, ho be- 
came involved in a bay of ice, where it seemed probable at one time that he 
.would be frozen fast or else his vessel dashed and ground to pieces. With 
some difficulty, however, he managed to extricate the pinnace from this dan- 
gerous situation, and continued to coast southward along Cumberland Island. 

At last Mount Raleigh came in view; and the next day he sailed across the 



JOHN DAVIS, THK SECOND GREAT ARCTIC NAVKJATOR. 517 

mouth of that inlet which he had discovered on his first voyage, and ascen- 
ded its northern shore until he was again so entangled among the numerous 
small ishinds and narrow passages, the latter of which were frequentlj' half- 
tilled with ice, that he found it difficult either to advance or to retreat. As 
he felt confident that no great advantage was to be gained, however, by keep- 
ing on this path, he went back to the open sea. He passed the mouth of 
Frobisher's Bay, and an opening which he describes as the mouth of an ex- 
tensive gulf; this last was probably the entrance to Hudson's Bay. 

He was running very short of water, however; and his experience with the 
natives on the coast of Labrador did not tempt him to go ashore in search 
of any. He accordingly resolved to return to the larger vessels; and, with 
the increased force, seek a supply of the necessary fluid. He sailed toward 
the fishing-ground where he had left them; but they were nowhere to be 
seen. 

The condition of Davis was now terrible; alone on this side the Atlantic, 
not a white man nearer than the Spanish settlements in the West Indies, and 
they the enemies of England; and only a frail and small vessel, which must 
be propelled by oars as well as by sails, in which to cross the broad Atlantic. 

There was no help for it, however; the most diligent search failed to find 
the larger vessels, the masters of which, concluding that Davis and his hand- 
ful of companions must have perished, had sailed for England, and the ma- 
riners, not fearless, for they knew the dangers too well, but bravely facing 
the peril which could not be averted, trimmed their tiny sails, bent to their 
oars, and set out on the long and stormy voyage. They had a small quantity 
of stores with them which they had taken on the voyage of discovery; some 
fish were added to these; and a supply of water was obtained from the float- 
ing ice in the sea. 

Arrived in England Davis found even less enthusiasrn regarding the result 
of his voyage, than before. Walsingham, the great secretary of Queen Eliz- 
abeth, was dead; and with him had died much of that spirit of enterprise 
which commissioned the great navigators of the time to explore the unknown 
seas. Besides, the Spaniards were threatening an invasion of England; they 
were actually preparing their ships, which, they boasted, would form an In- 
vincible Armada; and the English Government had neither vessels nor 
money to spai'e for the exploration of the seas surrounding the new conti- 
nent. 

We hear no more of the explorer of the Arctic regions until the second 
voyage of Cavendish, four years after the return of the pinnace to England. 
Thomas Cavendish was an English gentleman of some means, ^vho seems to 
have been the very type of a spendthrift. A very few years of life at court 
l)roved enough to make way with all his patrimony except enough to fit out a 
ship in which he accompanied an expedition to Virginia under the command 



JOHN DAVIS, THE SECOND GREAT ARCTIC NAVIGATOR. 519 

of Sir Richard Grenville, in 1585. The seaman's life appeared to suit his tastes, 
or else he found that ruined fortunes might easily be repaired by means of 
it. Accordingly, in July, 1586, he sailed from England with three small ves- 
sels which he had fitted out, to prey on the ships of Spaniards; and became 
what in these prosaic days would be called a pirate, but was then more poeti- 
cally styled a wild rover of the seas, a buccaneer, an adventurer of the 
ocean, or some such paraphrase. He circumnavigated the globe in a little 
over two yeai's, being the third who had accomplished the feat of sailing 
from Europe westward till Europe was reached again. So successful was he 
during these two years, in his patriotic endeavors to injure Spanish com. 
merce as much as possible, that when he returned his sailors were clothed in 
silk, his sails were of costliest damask, and his topmast was covered with 
cloth of gold — the most expensive stuffs known at that time. 

He returned in September, 1588; and in less than three years had spent so 
much of the wealth acquired during that voyage that he was ready to under- 
take another. It was on this second voyage, in 1501, that Davis became one 
of his followers. Their course lay toward the south; it being the intention 
of Cavendish to follow nearly the same path which, on the previous voyage, 
had led to such gains. They rounded South America and reached that ocean 
which Magellan had so mistakenly named the Pacific. Here storms of un- 
usual severity beset them, and the sailors, less determined than his men on 
the former expedition, refused to obey the orders which sent the ships far- 
ther from home. They mutinied and succeeded in compelling the leader to 
steer for England. 

But the victory of his men was to him a crushing disgrace; he could not 
bear to be ruled by those whom he should have ruled ; and the great advent- 
urer of the ocean died on the homeward voyage. 

There was at least one among his followers, however, who did not lesire 
to return to England without having some laurels as a discoverer to wear on 
his return. Davis, with one of the vessels, and seventy-six men, who were 
less cowardly than the others, continued to attempt the passage of the Straits 
of Magellan. He failed, but became the discoverer of the Falkland Islands. 

The discovery was dearly bought, however; for so disastrous was the home- 
ward passage that sixty of his men perished before they reached England; 
leaving scarcely enough to manage the vessel. 

This was his last voyage to America. Yet he did not leave the sea. He 
seems to have become an employe of the great East India Company, which 
was a power in England and India for so many years. He made three prin- 
cipal voyages to that country: once as master of a merchant fleet; twice as 
first pilot to a larger expedition, comprising ships of war as well as merchant- 
men. The last voyage was begun in 1605; on the way home, the fleet was 
attacked by native pirates off the coast of Malacca : and in these tropic Indian 



520 JOHN 1)A\ IS, rilK SKCOM) tiUKAT AKCTU; NAVKiATOK. 

seas, far from the ice-covered waters which istill licai- his iiaiuc, .lulm Davis 
fell at the hand of some infuriated Malaywhosc name lias Ix'cii for iiiorc^ tlian 
two hundred years forgotten. 

Thus departed from earth a brave and able navigator, whose fate it was 
to again and again search few but cold and inhospitable shores. Who can tell 
how much larger and more romantic a jjlace in history he might have held, 
if his lot had been cast for explorations under summer skies and over warni- 
rr seas. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

FOUR YEAKS IN THE LIFE OF HENKY HUDSON. 

Voyage of Verrazzano — Commissioned by Francis I. of France— Tlie Coast of America- 
Contrast Between French and Indian Actions — Return to France— Hudson's First Voyage — 
The Coast of Greenland — Return to England— Second Voyage — No Practicable Northeast 
Passage — Return — In the Service of Holland — Third Voyage — To the Northeast— Reasons for 
Changing Course — To America — Coast of Canada — Exploring the Coast of the United States 
— New York Bay — The Story from an Indian Standpoint — Meaning of the Name Manhattan 
— New Use for Implements — An Old Trick — Ascending the River — Mutinous Temper of 
Crew — Return — English (rovernment Interferes — Weymouth's Voyage — Hudson's Last 
Voyage — A Peculiar History — Hudson Strait —Hudson Bay — Trial of Juet for Mutiny — 
Frozen In — Quarrels Among the Crew — Their Food — An Exploring Expedition — Famine — 
The Plots Come to .a Head Persuading Prickett — The Plot — Hudson and his Companions 
Abandoned to their Fate — Hostile Natives— Return of the Conspirators to England — Im- 
prisonment. 

(5 I HE broad and beautiful river on which the largest city of the Amer- 
* I ican continent is situated, the second in size of those great arms of 
the sea which indent the coast, and the entrance to that niiglity bay, 
are all called by the name of one man ; yet that man was not the discoverer 
of any one of them. His name, however, is so indissolubly connected with 
the three great bodies of water that we have mentioned, that any account 
of the discovery of the western continent would be incomplete, did it not 
embrace some history of his explorations; and his tragic fate is one of the 
saddest stories connected with the early records of the New World. 

Shortly after his accession to the throne of France, King Francis I, the 
contemporary and rival of the Emperor Charles V, determined to make 
some effort to explore the coast of the western continent, north of that por- 
tion which had been claimed and settled by the Spaniards. Cabot's voyages 
had made it certain that the land extended to a considerable distance north 
of the Isthmus of Panama, where were the earliest settlements of the Span- 
iards on the continent ; and the French, like all other nations, were anxious 
to tind a short passage to China. Verazzano was instructed to proceed 
along the eastern coast of what is now called North America, and lind a 
passage to China. Four vessels were prepared ; but the violence of the 
storms which they encountered before they were out of sight of land dis- 
abled two; and after some time had been spent in cruising along the coast 
of Spain, as they had been instructed to do before venturing across the 
Atlantic, they found it wisest to leave one of these behind them ; and, with 
the Dolphin alone, set forth on the voyage. 

January 17, 1524, they set sail from a desolate rock near the Madeira 
Islands, with a crew of tifty men. He had provisions sufficient for eight 

(521) 



522 I'OIK YICAKS IN TIIK LIKE OF UKNKY IIIDSON. 

months, and all the military and naval stores necessary. For more than a 
month, with favorable breezes and good weather, they sailed pleasantly 
along; but February 24, " we encountered as violent a hurricane as any ship 
ever weathered, from which we escaped unhurt by the Divine assistance and 
goodness, to the praise of the glorious and fortunate name of our good ship, 
that had been able to support the tossing of the waves." 

Twenty-four days later they came in sight of land, which they perceived, 
from the number of tires along the coast, was inhabited. Here they sought 
anchorage in vain ; and, although they followed the coast southwardly for fif- 
ty leagues, could find no good harbor. Seeing that the coast still stretched 
southwardly, they resolved to put the ship about, and stood to the north. As 
they still met with the same difBculty, they drew to the land, and sent a 
number of the men ashore in a boat, to communicate with the people; and 
Verazzano, in his report to the King, has much to say of th« appearance and 
customs of the Indians along the coast where he sailed. 

The place where they first landed is supposed to have been on the coast of 
one of the Carolinas. If the explorer has correctly stated the latitude, or 
the translator has erred in rendering the direction in which they afterward 
sailed, the point was near where the city of Wilmington now stands. 

Two incidents show the contrast between the actions of the natives and of 
the white men in a light not very favorable to the Europeans. A young sailor, 
attempting to swim ashore through the surf, with some bells and other knick- 
knacks as gifts for the Indians, was struck by a wave which knocked him 
senseless. He was thrown upon the beach and lay there as if dead. The In- 
dians rushed to him, and lifting him gently, carried him out of the reach of 
the waters. His comrades watched anxiously, expecting to see the savages 
put him to death; and the sailor, who had revived, expressed his own fears 
by loud shrieks. Every sign that ingenuity could devise was employedby the 
Indians to reassure him ; and although they stripped him of his clothes when 
they got him to a fire wdiich they had built, and his companions imagined that 
he was to furnish the material for a feast of cannibals, they chafed his limbs, 
and offered him such food as they had. When his strength was restored, 
they permitted him to return to the ship, hugging him with great affection as 
*hey accompanied hira to the shore. 

A few days after this, about a hundred and fifty miles north of the point 
where this occurred, a party of the sailors being on shore came upon an old 
and ayoung woman, who had three children with them. One of the children, 
a boy of about eight years old, they decided to carry to France; they would 
have taken the younger woman, but she shrieked so loudly that they were 
afraid the men of her tribe would attack them. Thus, from the earliest times, 
the European explorers repaid the kindness of the natives by kidnapping 
them and trampling on their rights. 



FOUR YEARS IN THE LIFE OF HENRY HUDSON. 523 

Proceeding northward, they entered the estuary which is now known as 
New York Bay. Verazzauo gives a minute and accurate description of this 
harbor, where they rode at anchor for some days, before they followed the 
coast of Connecticut to Narragansett Bay. Near this resting-place, they found 
the Indians much lighter in color than those farther south, Verazzano assert- 
ing that they are of a very fair complexion, some of them inclining to a white. 
It is supposed that these are the " white Indians," of whom we have spoken 
in the first chapter of the present volume. 

They had considerable intercourse with the natives living along the south- 
ern coast of the New England States, and Verazzano gives a very clear and 
accurate description of the appearance of these people, as well as an account 
of their manners and customs. He continued to follow the coast for some 
distance uoi-thward, the whole distance explored being, according to his esti 
mate, two thousand one hundred miles. They reached the port of Dieppr 
early in July, 1524. It is on these discoveries of Verazzano and those latet 
ones of Cartier that the French based their claims to New France, as they 
called North America. 

More than eighty years after this voyage of Verazzano, there was made the 
first voyage of Henry Hudson of which history takes any account. In April. 
1607, a vessel having been prepared, he assembled his crew, "purposing to 
go to sea for to discover a passage by the North Pole to Japan and China." 
They numbered eleven men, including Hudson; and the roll included, be- 
sides, the name of "John Hudson, a boy," supposed to have been the mas- 
ter's son. 

iVIay 1 they weighed anchor at Gravesend; and, passing by the Shetland 
Isles, steered to the northwest till they came in sight of the coast of Green- 
land. His statements are so vague, and we know so little of the real outline 
of Greenland even now, that it is impossible to place the points which he 
mentions; so broad are the ice-fields by which this great body of land is en- 
compassed. 

But Hudson's instructions did not bind him to an exploration of the coast 
of the western continent; it would answer equally well if he found the de- 
sired passage to China around by the northern coast of Europe. Accordingly, 
having sailed along the coast of Greenland until June 22, and having his sails 
and shrouds frozen stiff in what is the summer of the northern hemisphere, 
he altered his course and stood to the northeast, reaching a point on the 
western coast of Spitzbergen five days later. 

For more than a month they continued to explore the coast of this island, 
then but very little known; and despairing of finding the desired passage, 
and fearing that the winter would find them ice-locked in these far northern 
seas, they sailed southwardly again, arriving in the Thames September 15. 

Nothing had been accomplished by this voyage, but in the following year 



r)24 



rofK YKAIiS IN TIIK, l.irK. OK IIEXRV lirUSOX. 



Hudson sol mil upon :i similar cxpt'dilion, liis crew numbering Ihiileen men 
lu'sides himself and liis son. April 22, KJOX. they set sail, the general direc- 
tion taken heing ncarl}' due northeast. Thej- reached the North Capeon the 
coast of Norway, early in June, and kept on their way around the northern 
coast of Europe. It was during this voyage that two of the seamen posi- 
tively afiirmed that they had seen a mermaid; but Dr. Kane observes that 
there is something strangely human about the appearance and niovcnienls of 
the seal; and it was most probably one of those animals that they saw. Mo- 
mentary glimpses and imperfect views have led to the liclief in the strangest 
animals of llic occmu : iiiiTnii'ii mikI incrninids. and llic Icri'iitlc soii-scrpcnl . 




A considerable portion of the coast of Nova Zenibla was explored; but as 
the summer drew near to a close, Hudson saw that there was no practicable 
Northeast Passage from western Europe toChina; and resolved to sail to the 
northwest. Further consideration, however, caused him to change this re- 
solve; and, he tells us, "I thought it my duty to save victual, wages, and tackle, 
by my speedy return, and not by foolish rashness, the time being wasted, to 
lay more charge upon the action tiian n(>cessity should compel." In accoi'- 
dance with this decision he sailed for England and arrived there August 2(5. 



FOUR YEARS IX THE MFE OF HF.XRT HUDSON". 525 

Hudson's fame as a navigator had now gone abroad; and when the King of 
France determined to send out an exploring expedition, he was advised by 
Jeannin, the great statesman, to employ Hudson as the leader. Jeanniu was 
commissioned to secure the services of the navigator, but for some reason 
failed to do so. It is the third and fourth voyages that interest us, for the.se 
were the only journeys which he made to the shores of the New World. 

The Dutch East India Company decided to send out an expedition to find 
a northern passage to China and India; but, like the Englishmen for whom 
Hudson had previously sailed, they did not care whether it was by the north- 
east or by the northwest. Hudson, who is described as " an experienced 
English pilot," was the master of the vessel called the JIalf Moon, which 
was one of those rather flat-bottomed ships constructed for the difficult 
navigation of the sandy entrance to the Zuyder Zee, called the Vlie; these 
vessels being called vlie-boats, or by the English, fly-boats. His crew con- 
sisted of eighteen or twenty men, partly English, partly Dutch. 

Leaving the Texel, April 6, 1609, they sailed again to the northeast, and 
doubled the North Cape a month after leaving Holland. He found the sea 
as full of ice as it had been the preceding year, and therefore saw that it 
would be useless to attempt to find a passage. There were other reasons 
why he should not persevere in forcing his way eastwardly. Some of his 
men had been in the East Indies for a number of years, and could not stand 
the cold, even in summer time, of these high northern latitudes. Besides, 
the men of different nationalities on board the vessel wei-e constantly quar- 
reling; and Hudson thought that if they were engaged in exploring the 
shores of the New World, then regarded almost as fairyland, they would be 
more peacefully inclined. 

He accordingly laid before them two propositions. The first of these was 
to go to America, striking the coast in about the fortieth degi'ee of latitude, 
or about the middle of the present State cif New Jersey. Letters and maps 
had been recently sent to Hudson by his friend Captain John Smith, who 
liad become the chief man in the newly established English colony on the 
banks of the James River; and these informed him that just to the north of 
this colony there was a sea connnunicating with the western ocean — Chesa- 
peake Bay being then but imperfectly explored. The second proposition 
was to go to Davis' Strait, and search for a Northwest Passage. This met 
with more approval than the first, and was finally adopted by the crew. 

They arrived at the Faroe Islands about the middle of May, and sailed 
thence across the Atlantic, arriving off the coast of New France, as Canada 
was then called, two months later. Here they were obliged to land in order 
to get a new foremast, theirs having been lost on the voyage. 

They found this a good place for fishing, cod being especially plentiful; 
and were also able to trade for skins and furs, securing them at a low price. 



FOUR YKAKS IN THE LIFE OF HENRY HUDSON. 0- 1 

But the crew behaved badly to the natives, taking their property by force ; 
and many quarrels arose among them. Hudson's mate, Robert Juet, who 
has written an account of this voyage, tries to justify the sailors, by saying 
that in robbing and firing at the savages they were only doing what the In- 
dians were seeking an opportunity of doing to them. However this may be, 
they soon found it advisable to leave that part of the country; and stood out 
to sea in eight days after landing. 

They steered to the southward, and reached a point as far south as the 
coast of South Carolina. Returning thence toward the north, Hudson di- 
rected his course up Chesapeake Bay; but we have no record of how far he 
explored it. This great inlet does not seem, however, to have suggested it- 
self to him as the sea by which he could reach the western ocean. Perhaps 
the numerous shoals which he found prevented his having this idea of it; 
for Juet tells us, "He that will thoroughly discover this great bay must have 
a small pinnace, that must draw but four or five foot water, to sound before 
him." 

All through the month of August they sailed along the coast, sometimes 
in sight of land; sometimes far out at sea; until Sept. 2, 1609, early in the 
morning, they saw the land, like broken islands, rising northward of them. 
They were near the northern part of the coast of New Jersey; and Hudson 
was soon to see, for the first time, that river which still bears his name. 

"Then we luffed in for the shore, and fair by the shore we had seven 
fathoms. The course along the land we found to be northeast by north. From 
the land which we had first sight of, until we came to a great lake of water, 
as we could judge it to be, being drowned land, which made it to rise like 
islands, which was in length ten leagues. The mouth of that land hath 
many shoals, and the sea breaketh on them as it is cast out of the mouth of 
jj^ « « » * "Pq jjjg northward of us we saw high hills. * * * * This 
is a very good land to fall with, and a pleasant land to see." 

The next morning, according to the record, they came to three great riv- 
ers. The placing of these three rivers is a puzzle to modern geographers; 
nor is it certain whether Hudson passed Staten Island on the eastern or the 
western shore. 

On the fourth, having anchored outside of New York Bay, probably in 
what is now called Gravesend Bay, they sent a boat-load of men on shore to 
fish; tradition says that they landed on Coney Island. That night the wind 
blew hard from the northwest, and their anchor came home, so that they 
were driven upon shore. The ground, however, was soft sand and ooze, so 
that the vessel was not injured. The next day's flood-tide carried her into 
deep water again. 

For some days they cruised about this point; holding constant communi- 
cation with the natives, whom Hudson uniformly treated with kindness, 



^'2A KOUR VKAKS l.N I'UK I.IFK OK IIKXRV IllUSON. 

while liis men showed the .saiiic initstrust whieh had, on a previous ocea.sion, 
led to the ill-treatment of the Indians. But in this connection, the history 
of the events from an Indian standpoint will perhaps afford more variety 
than can be obtained by a strict following of Juet's record and the ancient 
narratives of De Laet and Van Der Donck. Kev. John Ileckewelder, for 
many years a IMoravian missionary to the Indians of Pennsylvania, obtained 
from them their story of Hudson's landing; and wrote it out from notes taken 
of the accounts given by aged and respected Delawares and Mohegans. 
We make a few extracts: — 

"A long time ago, when there was no such thing known to the Indians as 
people with a white skin, some Indians who had been out fishing where the 
sea widens, espied at a great distance something remarkably large swimming 
or floating on the water, and such as they had never seen before. They im- 
mediately returning to the shore told the other Indians of what they had 
seen, and pressed them to go out with them and discover what it might be. 
These together hurried out, and saw to their great surprise the phenomenon, 
but could not agree what it might be; some concluding it either to be an un- 
commonly large f]sh or other animal, while others were of opinion that it must 
be a very large house. It was at length agreed among them that as this ap- 
j)earance moved toward the land, whether or not it was an animal, or any- 
thing that had life in it, it would be well to inform all tlie Indians on the in- 
habited islands of what they had seen, and put them on their guard. Ac- 
cordingly they sent runners and watermen off to carry the news to their scat- 
tered chiefs, that these might send off in every direction for the warriors to 
come in. These arriving in numbers, and themselves viewing the strange 
appearance, and that it was actually moving toward them — the entrance of 
the river or bay — concluded it to be a large canoe or house, in which the 
Manito — Great or Supreme Being — himself was, and that he probably was 
coming to visit them. By this time the chiefs of the different tribes wei-e 
assembled on York Island, and were deliberating on the manner in which 
they should receive their Manito on his arrival. Every step had been taken 
to be well provided with plenty of meat for a sacrifice; the women were re- 
quired to prepare the best of victuals; idols or images were examined and 
put in order; and a grand dance was supposed to be not only an agreeable 
entertainment for the Manito, but might, with the addition of a sacrifice, 
contribute toward appeasing him, in case he was angry with them. The con- 
jurors also were set to work, to determine what the meaning of this phe- 
nomenon was, and what the result would be. Both to these, and to the 
chiefs and wise men of the nation, men, women and children were looking 
for advice and protection. Between hope and fear, and in confusion, a 
dance commenced. While in this situation, fresh runners arrive, declaring 
it a house of various colors, and crowded with living creatures. It now ap- 



FOIK YKAKS IN TIIK 1,IIK OF IIKNKY HUDSON. 



52y 



pears to be certain that it is the great Mauito bringing them some kind of 
game, such as they had not before; but other runners soon afterward ar- 
riving, declare it a large house of various colors, full of people, yet of quite 
a different color than they, the Indians, are of; that they were also dressed 
in a different manner from them, and that one in particular appeared alto- 
gether red, which must be the Manito himself. 




Henry Hudson and Crew at Manhattan Island. 

•'They are soon hailed from the vessel, though in a language they do not 
understand; yet they shout or yell in their way. Many are for running off to 
the woods, but are pressed by others to stay, in order not to give offense to 
their visitors, who could find them out and might destroy them. 

" The house, or large canoe, as some will have it, stops, and a smaller ca- 
noe comes ashore with the red man and some others in it; some stay by this 
canoe to guard it. The chief and wise men, or councillors, have composed a 
kirge circle, unto which the red-clothed man with two others approach. He 
salutes them with friendly countenance, and they return the salute after 
their manner. They are lost in admiration, both as to the color of the skin 
of these whites, as also to their manner of dress, yet most as to the habit 
of him who wore the red clothes, which shone with something they could not 
account for. [Hudson's costume was of red cloth, trimmed with gold lace.] 
He must be the great Manito. they think: but why should he have a white 
skin? 



530 FOLK YEAKS IN TIIK LIFE OF HENRY HLDSON. 

"A largo liockhack [gourd or bottle] is brought forward by one of the 
Mfiuito's servants, and from this a substance is poured out into a small cup 
and handed to the Manito. The Manito drinks; has the glass filled again, 
and hands it to the chief next him to drink. The chief receives the glass, 
but only smolleth at it, and passes it on to the next chief, who does the same. 
The glass tluis passes through the circle without the contents being tasted by 
anyone; and is upon the point of being returned again to the red-clothed 
man, when one of their number, a spirited man and a groat warrior, jumps 
up, harangues the assembly on the impropriety of returningthe glass with 
the contents in it; that the same was handed to them by the Manito in order 
that thoy might drink, as he himself had done before them; that this would 
please him; but to return what he had given to them might provoke him, 
and be the cause of their being destroyed by them. And that since he be- 
lieved it for the good of the nation that the contents offered them should be 
drank, and as no one was willing to drink it he would, let the consequence 
be what it would; and that it was better for one man to die, than for a whole 
nation to be destroyed. He then took the glass, and, bidding the assembly 
a farewell, drank it off. Every eye was fixed on their resolute companion to 
see what an effect this would have upon him; and he soon beginning to stag- 
ger about, and at last dropping to the ground, they bemoan him. He falls 
into a sleep, and they view him as expiring. He awakes again, and jumps 
up, and declares that he never felt himself so happy before as after he had 
drank the cup. Wishes for more. His wish is granted; and the whole as- 
sembly soon join him, and become intoxicated." 

To this account the reverend gentleman appends a note, as follows: — 

" The Dclawares called this place — New York Island — Mannahattanink or 
Mannaiiacktanink to this day. They have frequently told me that it derived 
its name from the general intoxication, and that the word comprehended the 
same as to say the island or place of general intoxication.'" 

"After this general intoxication had ceased — during which time the whites 
had confined themselves to their vessel, — the man with the red clothes re- 
turned again to them, and distributed presents among them, to wit, beads, 
axes, hoes, stockings, etc. They say that they had become familiar to each 
other, and were made to understand by signs, that they would now return 
home, but would visit them next year again, when they would bring them 
more presents, and stay with them awhile; but that, as they could not live 
without eating, they should then want a little land of them to sow seeds in 
order to raise herbs to put in their broth. 

"That the vessel arrived the season following, and they were much rejoiced 
at seeing each other; but that the whites laughed at them, seeing that they 
knew not the use of the axes, hoes, etc., which they had given them, they hav- 
ing had these hanging to their breasts for ornaments; and the stockings they 



FOUR YEARS IN THE LIFE OF HENRY HUDSON. 031 

hail iiuide use of as tobacco pouches. The whites now put handles in the 
former, and cut trees down before their eyes, and dug the ground, and showed 
them the use of the stockings. Here a general laughter ensued among the 
Indians, that the}' had remained for so long a time ignorant of the use of so 
valuable implements; and had borne with the weight of such heavy metal 
hanging to their necks for such a length of time. 

"They took every white man they saw for a Manito, yet inferior and at- 
tendant to the supreme Manito, to wit, to the one which wore the red and 
laced clothes. Familiarity daily increasing between them and the whites, the 
latter now proposed to stay with them, asking them only for so much land as 
the hide of a bullock would encompass; which hide was brought forward and 
spread on the ground before them. That they readily granted this request; 
whereupon the whites took a knife, and beginning at one place on this hide, 
cut it up into a rope no thicker than the finger of a little child, so that by the 
time this hide was cut up, there was a great heap. That this rope was drawn 
out to a great distance, and then brought round again, that both ends might 
meet. That they carefully avoided its breaking, and that upon the whole it 
encompassed a large piece of ground. That the Indians were surprised at 
Ihe superior wit of the whites, but did not wish to contend with them about 
a little land, as they had enough. That they and the whites lived for a long 
time contentedly together, although these asked from time to time more land 
of them; and proceeding higher up the Mahicanittuk [Hudson River] they 
believed they would soon want all their country, and which at this time was 
already the case." 

We have continued this quotation beyond the limits of what applies to Hud- 
son, to show how the confidence of the natives was won by the straightfor- 
ward sailor, and, as was too often the case in other instances, abused by the less 
considerate settler. The Manito who returned was not the same as the first 
that they had seen; and the vagueness of Indian ideas regarding the lapse of 
time caused the tradition to say that he returned the next season. Except- 
ing for these two errors, it is a simple and direct narrative, from the native 
point of view, of the landing of Hudson and his men. 

Their ship sailed up the river to about where Albany now stands. The peo- 
ple were friendly, and had an abundance of provisions, skins and furs, mainly 
of martins and foxes, and such other commodities as fowls and fruits. These 
they were very willing to trade with the people of the ship. 

But the provisions which they had brought with them, and which they con- 
sidered essential to their well-being — for how could they live without salt 
pork and ship biscuit, whatever else might be supplied? — the crew clamored 
for aretui'n to Holland. One of them, indeed, who held the second rank in 
the vessel, desired to winter in Newfoundland, a name then applied to Nova 
Scotia as well as to the island, and to proceed northward in the spiing for 



532 



rol K YKAKS IN TIIK I.ri K OK IIK.NKV IILUSOX. 



tilt; exploration of Davis' Strait and the waters which lie beyond it. But 
Hudson know the mutinous temper of his crew, they had savagely threatened 
him uid he was afraid of tiicm, if they remained all wiutu in Newfoundland 




they would consume tlic , i :iii 1 N.^ .ompelled to return, after ail, in 

the sprinnr. Many of tlie eixw , besides, \wix- siek. He therefore proposed to 
them that they should sail to Ireland and winter there; and to this proposi- 
tion tliev all a'H-eed. 



FOUR YEARS IN THE LIFE OF HENRY HUDSON. 533 

Tlicy ai'rived in England November 7, tlic project of wintering in Ireland 
seeming to have been reconsidered almost at once. From this point they 
sent a messenger to inform the Dutch East India Company of their return, 
and of the extent of what they had discovered and explored. This messen- 
ger was also to submit the requests of Hudson for certain arrangements to be 
made for the next year. He wished six or seven of his crew exchanged for 
others, and asked that the number should be slightly increased. He stated 
that it was his intention, with their permission, to leave Dartmouth March 1, 
1610, proceed to the Northwest, spend all of April and half of May in fishing 
for whales and other fish, near the coast of Newfoundland; thence sail north- 
west till the middle of September, when he would return by way of the north- 
ern coast of Scotland. 

Contrary winds prevented this messenger from delivering his news and re- 
quests to the Company as soon as had been expected; but as soon as they 
heard of the arrival of the vessel in England, they ordered it to be brought, 
with all on board, to Holland, as soon as possible. Just here the English Gov- 
ernment interfered; and Hudson and the other Englishmen who were on the 
//«//" J/oo« were ordered to remain in England to serve their own country. 
Of course this was unfair, to prevent them from laying their report of the 
enterprise before their employers; but King James I. had some idea of send- 
ing English ships to explore the Hudson River. 

In the year 1613 Hessel Gerritz, a Dutch cosmographer of note, prepared 
and printed a chart showing the results of Hudson's two voyages to North 
America. Printed on the back of this chart was a Latin descrij)tion of the 
country, with some historical account of the enterprise. From this account 
we quote a paragraph showing what had been the influences at work upon 
Hudson, and what knowledge he had of these seas before he undertook the 
fourth voyage; when he endeavored to explore them, and re-discovered the 
Strait and Bay which bear his name. Gerritz writes concerning Davis' 
Strait: — 

"The last navigator who went along that way was Captain George Wey- 
mouth, who sailed in the year 1602, and who, after a voyage of five hundred 
leagues, was, like his predecessors, forced by the ice to return. But on pur- 
pose to draw at least some advantage from his expedition, he directed his 
course to the bay under 61 degrees, which the English call Lumley's Inlet, and 
sailed a hundred leagues in a southwesterly direction into it. Having gone so 
far, he found himself land-locked, and, despairing of a passage, he was, by 
the weakness of his crew and other causes, forced to return. He, however, 
first explored two more bays between that country and Baccalaos, and found 
there the water wide and mighty like an open sea, with very great tides. 

"This voyage, though far from fulfilling Weymouth's hopes, assisted Hud- 
son very materially in finding his famous strait. George Weymouth's log- 



534 



FOUR YEARS IN THK LIFK OF HENRY JIUUSON. 



books fell intotlio hiuids of the Rev. Peter Plancius, who pays the most dili- 
gent attention to such new discoveries, chietiy when they maybe of advantage 
to our own country; and when in 1()09 Hudson was preparing to undertake a 
voyage for thi' Directors of the P>ast India Company, in search of a passage 
to China and Cathay l)y way of the north of Nova Zembla, he ol)tained these 
logbooks from Peter Plancius. Out of them he learned this whole voyage of 
George AVey mouth, through the narrows north of Virginia till into the great 
inland sea; and thence he concluded that thi-^ road would lead liiin to India. 




Hkstiy Hudson. 
"But Peter Plancius refuted this later opinion from the accounts of a man 
who had searched and explored the western shore of that sea, and had stated 
that it formed an unbroken line of coast. Hudson, in spite of this advice, 
sailed westward to try what chance of a passage might be left there, having 
first gone to Nova Zembla, where he found the sea entirely blocked up by ice 
and snow. He seems, however, according to the opinion of our countrymen, 
purposely to have mi.ssed the right ro.-id to the western passage, unwilling to 
benefit Holland and the directors of the Dutch East India Company by such 
a discovery. All he did in the west in ](i09 w.as to exchange his nicrchandi.se 
for furs in New France. He then returned safely to England, where he was 
.accused of having t.aken a voyage to the detriment of his own country. Still 
anxious to discover a western passage, he again set out in 1610, and directed 
his course to Davis' Strait."' 



FOUR YEARS IN THE LIFE OF HENKV HUDSON. 535 

Sir Thomas Smith, Sir Dudley Digges, Master John Wostenholme, and 
some others, enlisted in the enterprise by the efforts of those whom we have 
named, provided the vessel for this voyage, and fitted her out. In this ship, 
called the Discovery, Hudson was to sail direct for Davis' Strait, and seek to 
find a passage leading from its western side to the South Sea. Their voyage 
began April 17; and five days later they sailed from the mouth of the Thames. 
The crew numbered about twenty men besides Hudson and his son John. 

We have an account of a part of this voyage from Hudson's own hand; 
but it professes to be no more than an absti'act, and is but brief and unsatis- 
factory. The longest account that we have, and the most detailed and cir- 
cumstantial, was written by Abacuk Prickett, who had been in the employ of 
Sir Dudley Digges. This fourth voyage of Hudson's is peculiar in one re- 
spect; in all other accounts, the men who composed the crew of the vessel 
are but shadows, parts of the machine; in the story of this expedition, they 
stand out as individuals ; we know their names ; we are told what they, as in- 
dividuals, said and did; and the interest is correspondingly increased. 

As they passed Iceland, they saw the flames rising from the crater of Mount 
Hecla, a sure sign of foul weather shortly to come; but they seem to have 
escaped the storm in its worst shape at least; for although they were obliged 
to put back to Iceland for a harbor, the vessel escaped all injury. 

They came in sight of Greenland June 4, but there was so much ice about 
the shore that it was impossible to land. Skirting the southern coast, they 
stood alongshore toward the northwest, impeded much by the ice. 

Hudson's men began to be very much discouraged at the appearance of 
things; and felt sure that their vessel was soon to be ground to pieces between 
the vast masses of ice that came floating down toward them. Hudson him- 
self despaired, although he seems to have given no signs of it at the time; but 
he told Prickett afterward that he thought they would have perished there. 
He brought out his chart, though, and showed the men how much farther 
they had entered the polar waters than any before them; and left it to them 
whether they should proceed further or not. 

Having the responsibility of the decision thus left to them, the crew were 
by no means united in their opinions. Some were venturesome enough to 
wish to go farther north; but by far the greater part of them wished most 
heartily that they were safely at home, away from this ice. 

"If I had a hundred pounds," said one of them, "I would give four-score 
to be at home." 

"If I had a hundred pounds," returned the carpenter, "I would not give 
ten to be at home ; but I would think it as good money as any that I ever 
had." 

The discussion brought no decision; and all hands went to work to get the 
ship clear of the ice, that she might be turned about. This was done with 



:m 



I'Ot'R YKAKS IN TIIK I.IKK OK IlK.MtV IIIDSON. 



iiosmall labor; and they .sailed to the westward, keeping close to thosixteentli 
parallel. This brought them to Ungava Bay ; and before long they sighted 
land, which Iliulson named De.sirc Provokes, but wliicji is now known as 
Akpatok Island. 




We ueed not follow them as they cautiously and slowly advanced along the 
southern shore of the strait, and at last entered the bay. It is doubtful 
whether they realized the extent of the body of water on which they were 
sailing; and probably thought, as they followed the eastern shore down to 
James Bay, that they had really entered the Pacific. This does not concern 
us here, however, so much as the actions of Hudson and his crew. 

At the time when the discussion about ))roceeding north had taken place, 
there had been many mutinous expressions used by some of the crew; but 
Hudson had not seen fit at the time to take notice of them. These expres- 
sions would seem to have been followed by other words and actions of the 
same nature; and September 10 Hudson called his men together, to be pres- 
ent at a sort of informal trial of Robert Juet, the mate of the vessel. 

According to the sworn testimony of Bennet Matthew, Phillip Staffe and 
Latllie Arnold, Juet had, in Iceland, on the way from Iceland to Greenland, 
while they were " pestered in the ice," and after arriving in James' Bay, used 
words tending to discourage the men, and so strong that they easily took 



FOfR VKARS IN TIIK lAVK OF HKXKV IIIDSON. 537 

effect ill those who were timorous, and might have " oveilhrown the voyage," 
had it not been for the prompt action of the master. In accordance with this 
testimony, Juet was deposed from his rank as mate, and Robert Bylot ap- 
pointed to take his place. At the same time, Francis Clement, the boatswain, 
was reduced to the level of ordinary seaman, and William Wilson advanced 
to his post. 

"Also the master promised, if the offenders yet behaved themselves hence- 
forth honestly, he would be a means for their good, and that he would forget 
injuries, with other admonitions." 

Such is a statement made in a note of this occurrence, found in the desk of 
Thomas Wydowse, one of those wiio shared Hudson's fate. These promises, 
however, seem to have been regarded as nothing in comparison with the 
wrong which they considered he had done them by thus degrading them from 
their offices. 

There seems to have been no immediate resentment, however; they must 
first lay their plans very carefully to be sure of success; the greater part of 
the crew must be won over to their side. Accordingly we hear of no event 
of importance until the first part of November, when Prickett notes that 
they were frozen in. 

Thej^ had provisions enough to last them for six months; and Hudson, in 
order to insure plenty of food for the winter and for the homeward voyage, 
offered a reward 'to each man wlio should kill either "beast, fish or fowl." 
It was about the middle of November that the trouble which ended so disas- 
trously began. 

One of the chief conspirators seems to have been Henry Greene, a man of 
good birth, who had lost, by his wild life, all friends among those of his own 
rank. Hudson had taken him in out of the London streets, and had given 
him food, shelter, and clothing. Greene was not one of those whom the own- 
ers of the vessel had hired to make up the crew, but was brought aboard by 
Hudson himself, who promised to see that he was provided for. He quar- 
reled with the surgeon while they were on the coast of Iceland, and beat this 
officer so that the whole crew took the matter up against Greene; Hudson, 
however, took the part of his protege, and laid the blame on the surgeon's 
tongue. Juet became an enemy of Greene's, and tried to make mischief be- 
tween the carpenter and him. Things were at this pass when John Williams, 
tlic gunner, died. According to the custom of the times, the possessions of 
the dead man were put up at auc^tion. Greene was especially anxious to pos- 
sess a certain gray cloth gown, and asked Hudson tobuy it for him, which the 
master jiromised to do. 

This important matter of the gray cloth gown beingsettled, as all thought, 
Hudson commanded the carpenter to build a house on shore. The carpenter 
replied that the weather was not fit for such work, that he would not and 



538 FOUR YEARS I\ TlIF, LII-K OF HENRY HUDSON. 

could not do it. Hudson il(!\v into a passion and chased him out of his cabin; 
threatening to hang him, and calling him by man}' vile names. The carpenter 
retorted that the master was no carpenter, and knew nothing about "'hat 
he was ordering to be done. ( ' 

No reconciliation followed this bitter quarrel; but the next day the carpen- 
ter went on shore on a hunting expedition. Hudson had given orders, some 
time before this, that no one should go ashore alone; and it had become an 
established custom with then for two to go, one with a pike, and the other 
with a "piece," or gun. The carpenter's companion on this occasion was 
Henry Greene. Hudson bitterly resented this ingratitude, and " did so rail 
on Greene, with so many words of disgrace, telling him that all his friends 
would not trust him with twenty shillings, and therefore why should he? " 
Hudson recalled his promise about the gray cloth gown, and gave the gar- 
ment to Bylot; and Prickett goes on to say of Greene: — 

"As for wages he had none, and none should have, if he did not please him 
well. Yet the master had promised him to make his wages as good as any 
man's in the ship; and to have him made one of the Prince's guard when he 
came home. But you shall see how the devil out of this so wrought with 
Greene, that he did the master what mischief he could in seeking to <liscredit 
him, and to thrust him and many other men out of the ship in the end. To 
speak of all our troubles in this time of winter — which was so cold, that it 
lamed the most of our company, and myself do feel it yet — would be too 
tedious." 

Throughout the winter they lived mainly on the birds which they killed — 
partridges, and after they had left, swan, geese, duck and teal " hard to come 
by." Then they were glad to go into the woods and gather whatever they 
could find to eat; the " moss of the ground," to which Prickett declares that 
he would have preferred the j)owder of a post; and frogs, which seemed less 
palatable to them than they would have seemed to a Frenchman. 

When the ice began to break up, an Indian, the first that they had seen all 
winter, came to the ship. He was extremely' well treated, and some trading was 
done; but after several visits he left them, telling them by signs of people 
living to the north and the south, and promising after a certain number of 
sleeps to come again; but they saw no more of him. 

A number of men were sent in the boat to fish and met with very good suc- 
cess. Among those sent on this errand were Hein-y Greene and William Wil- 
son, who took advantage of their absence to plot against Hudson. The 
carpenter had recently set up the shallop; and they had planned to seize up- 
on this and the net, and shift for themselves and such others as would choose 
to follow them. 

On their return, however, they found that their plans were not practicable; 
for Hudson announced that he would take the shallop, with provisions for 



FOUR YEARS IN THK LIl'l': OK HENRY HUDSON. 



r)3<) 



eight or nine days, and go to the south and southwest, to see if he could 
meet with any of the natives. They who remained aboard were to take in 
wood, water, and balhist, and be all ready to sail as soon as he returned. He 
set no time for his return, for he felt sure that if he met with any Indians he 
could procure euough food of them to last him for any length of time. 




The BitEAKING-UP OF THE ICE. 

In these expectations, however, he was disappointed; for the Indians every- 
where fled at his approach, setting lire to the woods in his sight. He there- 
fore returned to the ship and made ready to sail. The scanty stock of bread 
was divided among the men, one pound for each man's share, for two weeks; 
and, to eke out the food, the boat was again lowered, and sent to the fishing- 
grounds where they had had such good success before; this time, however, 
although they worked from Friday morning till Sunday noon, they caught 
but eighty small fish ; a poor relief for so many hungry men. 

When the bread was divided, Hudson gave his men a bill of return ; that is, 
a statement that he had not been compelled by them to return before his 
judgment approved, but had done so of his own will. This was to use in case 
he should die before reaching England. "And he wept when he gave it unto 
them." 

The state of the food supply was well known to every one on board, and it 
might be thought that they would endeavor to bear in patience that for which 



54(1 I'oi K VKAUs i\ Till': i.iir. ok iiknky iuuson. 

there was no help. But, hungry antl improvident, .some of tliem had eaten in 
a single day their two weeks' supply; and were clamoring against the master 
who had no more to give them. 

"Being thus in the ice on Saturday, the one and twentieth of June, at 
iiigiit, Wilson the boatswain and Henry Greene came to nie lying iu my cabin 
lame, aiul told me that they and the rest of their associates would shift the 
conipaiiy, and turn the nuister and all the sick men into the shallop, and let 
them sliift for themselves. For there were not fourteen days' victuals left 
for all the company, at the poor allowance they were at; and that there they 
lay, the master not caring to go one way or other; and that they had not 
eaten anything these three days, and therefore were resolute, either to, mend 
or end, and what they had begun they would go through with, or die. When 
I heard this, 1 told them that I marveled to hear so much from them, consid- 
ering that they were married men, and had wives and children, and that for 
their sakes they should not commit so foul a thing in the sight of God and 
man as that would be; for why should they banish themselves from their na- 
tive country? Henry Greene bade me hold my peace, for he knew the worst, 
which was to be hanged when he came home, and therefore of the two he 
would rather be hanged at home than starved abroad ; and, for the good will 
they bore me, they would have me stay in the ship. I gave them thanks, and 
told them that I came into her, not to forsake her, yet not to hurt myself and 
others by any such deed. Henry Greene told me then that I must take my for- 
tune in the shallop, li there be no remedy, said I, the will of God be done. 

".\way went Henry Greene in a rage, swearing to cut his throat that went 
about to disturb them; and left Wilson by me, with whom I had some talk, 
but to no good; for he was so persuaded that there was no remedy now but 
to go on while it was hot, lest their party should fail them, and the mischief 
they had intended to do to others should light on themselves. Henry 
Greene came again, and demanded of him what I said. Wilson answered: — 

" 'He is at his old song, still patient.' 

"Then I spake to Henry Greene to stay three days, in which time I would 
so deal with the master that all should be well. So I dealt with him but to 
forbear two days, nay, twelve hours; there is no way then, say they, but out 
of hand. Then I told them, that if they w'ould stay till Monday, I would 
join with them to share all the victuals in the ship, and would justify it when 
I came home; but this would not serve their turns. Wherefore I told them, 
that it was some worse matter that they had in hand than they made show of. 
and that it was blood and revenge he sought, or else he would not at such a 
time of night undertake such a deed. Henry Greene, with that, taketh my 
Bible which lay before me, and sware that he would do no man harm, and 
what he did was for the good of the voyage, and for nothing else; and that 
all the rest should do the like. The like did Wilson swear. 



KOtIR YKAKS IN THK I,IFK Ol'' HKNHV HUDSON. 541 

"Henry Greene went his waj', and presently came Juet : who. hecause he 
was an ancient inan, I hoped to have found st)nie reason in him ; ])ut he was 
worse than Henry Greene, for he sware phiinly that he would justify this 
deed when he came home." 

Four others came in succession to Prickett's cabin to try to win him over; 
for they knew the dangers of the course which they were about to pursue, 
and knew that he possessed nmch influence with his master, Sir Dudley Digges ; 
if this influence could be exerted in their behalf, Prickett being as deep in the 
mud as they were in the mire, they had no fears of being punished. 

Prickett, however, although unable to dissuade them, compelled each one 
of them to swear what Greene had already sworn ; and trusted that they 
would all go to rest. He was in hopes that their plots would be betrayed to 
Hudson, but was himself too lame to stir from his bed without such great 
efforts as would attract the attention of the conspirators and hasten the exe- 
cution of their plans. 

Hudson had advanced the carpenter, whose quarrel had long since been 
forgotten, to the position of mate, thereby displacing Robert Bylot. This 
had excited the jealousy of the crew against the new mate, and it was re- 
solved that he should be one of those who were to be put in the shallop. 

Soon after daybreak, when the men first began to stir, Henry Greene and 
another man went to the carpenter, and held him with a talk until the 
master came out of his cabin, a short time after they began to talk. Two 
others of the conspirators approached Hudson and engaged his attention un- 
til Wilson had an opportunity to come up behind him, suddenly seize him, 
and bind his arms. Hudson demanded to know what they were doing. They 
told him that he should know when he was in the shallop. He seems to have 
l)een taken completelj- by surprise. 

One of the doomed men, whom they expected to take in the cabin, got 
hold of a sword and defended himself with it for some time, but at last was 
overpowered by numbers, and brought up on deck, where he was placed be- 
side Hudson. Two of those who had been seized and were about to be placed 
in the shallop "railed at them, and told them their knavery would show it- 
self " — i. e., murder would out. 

"Then was tlie shallop hauled up to the ship's side, and the poor, sick, and 
lame men were called upon to get them out of their cabins into the shallop. 
The master called to me, who came out of my cabin as well as I could, to the 
hatchway to speak with him ; where on my knees I besought them for the 
love of God to remember themselves, and to do as they would be done unto. 
They bade me keep myself well, and get me into my cabin; not suffering the 
master to speak with me. But when I came into my cabin again, he called 
to me at the horn which gave light into my cabin, and told me that Juet 
would overthrow us all. 



FOUR YEARS IN THE LIFE OF HENRY HUDSON. 543 

"'Nay,' said I; ' it is that villain, Henry Greene.' 

"And I spake it not softly. * * * Now they let fall the mainsail, and out 
with their topsails, and fly as from an enemy." 

And this is all that we know of Henry Hudson. The vagueness of Prick- 
ett's descriptions and statements is such that we can only say, of the place of 
this occurrence, that it was somewhere near the southeastern portion of 
James Bay; he fixes the time accurately enough; but of Henry Hudson, the 
boy John Hudson, and the seven others who were put into the shallop, the 
civilized world has never heard another word. 

We have seen from what trifles their bitter enmity against the master of 
the vessel arose; the fate to which they condemned him, and the entreaties 
which his faithful follower made in his behalf; it remains only to trace the 
progress of the Discovery in her return to England. 

Prickett was invited to take charge of the master's cabin; and, after some 
demur, did so. Juet and Bylot quarreled about the course which the ship 
should take, and the direction of affairs — which did not go with the occupan- 
cy of the master's cabin — was finally given to Henry Greene. 

Greene was no friend of Prickett, and lost no opportunity of injuring him 
with the others; boldly accusing Prickett of a theft of bread of which be 
himself had been guilty, but the others seem to have been too prudent to wish 
to offend their peacemaker, and Greene was in this case forced to keep his 
hatred within bounds. 

They reached the mouth of tlie strait, where they had some friendly deal- 
ings with a number of the natives. On Cape Digges Island they found a 
number of fowls breeding; and the savages exhibited with some pride their 
skill in lassoing these birds; while the whites, sure of their superiority, 
showed how they might be killed with fire-arms. The Englishmen anticipated 
getting a considerable store of food from these Esquimaux, in return for 
tools and trinkets; but the savages were not so friendly as they had thought. 

"The next day, the nine and twentieth of July, they made haste to be 
ashore; and because the ship rode too far off, they weighed and stood as near 
the place where the fowl bred as they could; and because I was lame I was 
to go in the boat, to carry such things as I had in the cabin, of everything 
somewhat; and so, with more haste than good speed, and not without swear- 
ing, away we went, Henry Greene, William Wilson, John Thomas, Michael 
Perse, Andrew Moter, and myself. When we came near the shore, the peo- 
ple were on the hills dancing and leaping. To the cove we came, where they 
had drawn up their boats, we brought our boat to the east side of the cove, 
close to the rocks. Ashore they went, and made fast the boat to a great 
stone on the shore. The people came, and every one had somewhat in his 
hand to barter; but Henry Greene swore that they should have nothing till 
he had venison, for they had so promised him by signs. 



544 



l'(M U VKAKS IN TIIK JAW. OK IIKNKY IHPSON. 



"Now when wc came, they made signs to their dogs — whereof there w(>ro 
many like mongrels, as big as hounds — and pointed to their mniintnin mul to 




the sun, (■l;iii))ing their luinds. Then Henry (ircene, John Thomas, and Wi 
Ham AViison stood hard hv the lioat's lioad. Micliael I'crso and AIkHcw M( 



FOUR •^'EARS IN THE LIFE OF HENRY HUDSON. /)45 

ter wei'e got up upon a rock a gathering of sorrel; not one of them had 
any weapon about him, not so much as a stick, save Henry Greene alone, 
who had a piece of a pike in his hand; nor saw I anything that they had where- 
with to hurt us. Henry Greene and William Wilson had looking-glasses, and 
jewsharps, and bells, which they were showing the people. The savages 
standing round about them, one of them came into the boat's head to show 
me a bottle. I made signs to him to get him ashore, but he made as though 
he had not understood me, whereupon I stood up and pointed him ashore. In 
the meantime another stole behind me to the stern of the boat, and when I 
saw him ashore that was in the head of the boat I sat down again, but sud- 
denly I saw the leg and foot of a man by me. Wherefore I cast up my head, 
and saw the savage with his knife in his hand; who struck at mj- breast over 
my head; least up my right arm to save my breast; he wounded my arm, 
and struck me in the body. He struck a second blow, which I met with my 
left hand, and then he struck me in the right thigh, and had like to cut off 
the little finger of my left hand. Now I had got hold of the string of the 
knife, and had wound it about my left hand, he striving with both his hands 
to make an end of what he had begun; I found him but weak in the grip — 
God enabling me — and getting hold of the sleeve of his left arm, so bare 
him from me. His left side lay bare to me, which when I saw, I put his 
sleeve off his left arm into my left hand, holding the string of the knife fast 
in the same hand; and, having got my right hand at liberty, I sought for 
somewhat wherewith to strike him — not remembering my dagger at nij' side — 
I)ut looking down I saw it; and therewith struck him in the body and in the 
throat. 

"Whiles I was thus assaulted in the boat,- our men were set upon on the 
shore. John Thomas and William Wilson had their bowels cut, and Michael 
Perse and Henry Greene, being mortally wounded, came tumbling into the 
lioat together. When Andrew Moter saw this medley, he came running down 
the rocks, and leaped into the sea, and so swam to the boat, hanging on to 
the stern thereof , till Michael Perse took him in, who manfully made good 
the head of the boat against the savages, that pressed sore upon us. Now 
^lichael Perse had got a hatchet, wherewith I saw him strike one of them, 
that he lay sprawling in the sea. Henry Greene cryeth : 'Coragio!' and lay- 
eth about him with his truncheon. I cried to them to clear the boat, and 
Andrew Moter cried to be taken in. The savages betook themselves to their 
bows and arrows, which they sent amongst us, wherewith Henry Greene was 
slain outright, and Michael Perse received many wounds, and so did the rest. 
Michael Perse cleareth the boat, and puts it from the shore, and helpeth An- 
drew Moter in ; but in turning of the boat I received a cruel wound in my 
back with an arrow. Michael Perse and Andrew Moter rowed the boat away, 
which, when the savages saw, they ran to their boats, and I feared they would 



546 FOUR YKARS IN TIIK I.IFK OK HENRY HUDSON. 

have launched them to follow us, but they did not : and our ship was in the 
middle of the channel and could not see us. 

"Now, when they had rowed a good way from the shore, Michael Perse 
fainted, and could row no more. Then was Andrew Moter driven to .stand 
in the boat's head, and waft to the ship, which at tir.st saw us not, and when 
they did they could not tell what to make of us, but in the end they stood foi- 
us, and so took us up. Henry Greene was thrown out of the boat into the 
sea, and the rest were had aboard; the .savage being yet alive, but without 
sense. But they died all there that day, William Wilson swearing and curs- 
ing in most fearful manner. Michael Perse lived two days after, and then 
died. Thus you have heard the tragical end of Henry Greene and his mates, 
whom they called captain, these four being the only histic [strong] men on 
board." 

The sickly and feeble remnant of the crew were obliged to keep the vessel 
plying to and fro in the mouth of the strait, for fear of the savages; but at 
last hunger drove them to land, at a point where they thought there was a 
chance of getting some of the birds. A number of these were secured; but 
having no other food, they were soon reduced to as great straits as before; 
and the skins and entrails were eaten as well as the flesh. 

Juet, who seems to have been the only skilled seaman left on the vessel, 
had now full charge of the vessel; but his skill in navigation does not appear 
to have been very great. They were fully two hundred leagues from Ireland, 
when, by his reckoning, they were less than as many miles from the coast. 
This disci'epancy was caused by the "evil steerage," for they had gone 
here and there upon the waters, until no man really knew where they 
were. 

The men became so weak from hunger that they could not stand at the 
helm. Juet died of "mere want." The listless sailors saw the foresail or 
mainsail fly up to the tops, the sheets being either flown or broken, and would 
neither try to help it themselves or call others to do it. They had sunk into 
despair, and " cared not which end went forward." 

It was then that they saw land; and soon afterward there was the joyful 
cry:— 

"A sail I A sail I" 

It was a Ashing bark, which piloted them to a harbor on the southern coa.st 
,of Ireland, whence they made their way to England. The sailors were 
thrown into prison, to await the result of the expedition sent to the rescue 
of Hudson. Three ships sailed for this purpose the summer after the muti- 
neers arrived in England, under the command of a gentleman of the Prince 
of Wales' household, named Button, the discoverer of Button's Bay. But 
they were not able to And any traces of the shallop or its unfortunate occu- 
pants. The subsequent fate of the prisoners, like that of Hudson and his 



FOUR VKAKS IN THE LIFE OF HENRV HUDSON. 



547 



companions, is shrDudiMl in mystery : tlicir names do not occur again u|>()ii 
tlic ancient records. 




James I., Kixi; of England. 



CHAPTER XX. 

BAFFIN AND AliCTlC KXI'LO RATIONS. 

The Piirish Register Entries — Deductions — Beginning at the Foot of the Ladder — Danigh 
Attempts to Kxplore Northiiti Waters — liaffiii's First Keeorded Voyage — OH' (ireenland — 
Esquimaux Visitors — Hall Mortally Wounded — A Disappointment — Return — Two Voyages to 
the Northeast — Exploring Hpitzbergen — " (libbous His Hole" — Second Voyage to America — 
Off Greenland Again — Measuring Icebergs— Exploring the Islands — Hudson Strait — Return 
to England — Baffin's Opinion About the Northwest Pa-ssage — Third Voyage to America — Up 
Davis' Strait — In Baffin's Bay — Limit of Exploration — The Sick Cured — Return to England — 
Maps of Baffin's Bay — Ross' Testimony to Baffin's Merits — Baffin's New Scheme — Employed 
by East India Company — Arrival at Sural — Exploration of the Red Sea — A Favored Em- 
ploye — Becomes Master of a Ship — Fight with Dutch and Portuguese in Persian AVaters — A 
Drawn Battle — A Second Conflict — Return to Surat — To the Coast of Arabia — Alliance with 
the Shah — Siege of Ormuz — Baffin Levels the Guns — Killed. 

(5 I HE Parish Registers of England have frctjnently atibrded accurate in- 
* I torniation to those in search of tiie ilate of a death, birth, or marriage; 
and they have been carefully indexed by the British Government for 
this purpose. But the}- allbrd only a slight clue to anything connected 
with the life of William BalHn. Were ihese registers complete records 
there would be no ditKculty; but in ntany parishes there were none ke})t 
until late in the reign of Elizabeth, and these were not always complete, 
even for the j)eriod of time which they pretended to cover. 

In the registers which still exist, the name of Balfin occurs six times; 
live of these are in the register of a church in Westminster; one child bap- 
tized, one child who was buried, and three adults who were buried, having 
died of the plague. These entries are between lti()3 and 1G12. In another 
parish there is a single entry, that of the baj)tism of Susan Battin, the 
daughter of AVilliam Ballin, October 15, l(i09. These are slender mate- 
rials from which to construct a biography ; but they are all that we have re- 
garding the life of Baffin for the period up to twelve years before his death. 

The lirst live entries may concern relatives of the navigator, but they 
can hardly have been members of his immediate family. The last is })ro- 
bably the record of his daughter's baptism. "^Phe parish where it was reg- 
istered includes a district of London called Queenhithe ; this is a landing- 
place fiivored by sailors, and not an unlikely place for a seaman to choose 
as his home while on shore. 

Having thus shown on what a slender foundation ingenuity can construct 

(548) 



BAKKIN AND AKCTIC KX I'l.OKATIONS. 549 

some theory regarding the life of a hero, the author leaves the reader to ac- 
ceptor reject these guesses as he jjleases; only asking him, if he reject them, 
what better he has to offer in their place? 

Whatever may have been his dwelling-place while he was on shore, it is tol- 
erably certain, from hints found in old books, that Baffin spent most of his 
time on the sea; that he had been a sailor since his boyhood; and, beginning 
J at the very foot of the ladder, had won his way upward by sheer force of hard 
work. As such, he deserves to be ranked with any American who began life 
■ at the bottom of the social scale, and reached the highest round possible to a 
citizen of the United States. 

That he had received no regular education in science, is evidenced by what 
Purchas, an authority of his own day, says of him. This ancient historian 
calls him "that learned-unlearned mariner and mathematician." This can 
only mean that he had acquired, in the hard school of experience, tuat which 
men of higher birth and easier fortunes were taught in boyhood by their 
schoolmasters. 

The tirst recorded voyage which Baffin made began in 1612. A number of 
wealthy merchants had combined to fit out two shi[)s for the exploration of 
the coast of Greenland. The chief of these was Sir Thomas Smith, who had 
been interested for a number of years in Arctic explorations. He had been 
among those who fitted out the earliest expeditions to the northern coast of 
Europe; and when the East India Company, of which he was the first Gov- 
ernor, declined to make any further effort, for the time, toward discovering a 
Northwest Passage, after the failure of Captain Weymouth, he became the 
founder and first Governor of a new company, called The Company of Mer- 
chants of London, Discoverers of the Northwest Passage. Those who com- 
l)osed this company had, before its organization, united to send Hudson on 
hi^ last voyage ; their first act, as a corporation, would have been to send some 
one in search of him, had not the Prince of Wales taken the matter into his 
own hands and dispatched a gentleman of his own household. Sir Thomas 
Button, on the errand. 

Sir Dudley Digges, the master of Abacuk Prickett, whose influence was 
expected to secure Hudson's mutinous men from punishment; Sir John \^^ol- 
stenholme. Sir William Cockayne, Sir James Lancaster, Mr. Richard Ball, 
and Alderman Francis Jones, made up the others of the company. Their 
names are of importance, because a grateful sailor remembered the liberality 
which had enabled him to prosecute his discoveries, and bestowed their names 
upon capes and bays along the coast of that body of water to which his own 
name has been affixed. 

The chief of this first recorded voyage of Baffin was Captain James Hall, a 
native of Hull on the northeastern coast of England. He had seen considerable 
service in the Arctic seas, having been employed as pilot by the King of Den- 



550 HAI TIN AM) AKCriC. KXIM.OHA TIONS. 

mark in three expeditions sent out to search for the lost cohjnies of Green- 
land. On the second of tiiese voyages a number of natives were seized, to be 
taken to Denmark; and some who stoutly resisted capture were killed. We 
shall see, as we go on, how this affected the after fortunes of Hall, and, through 
him, of his subordinate Baffin. 

The King of Denmark then gave up his attemptsto re-e.\plore (Jreenland; 
and Hall returned to England. Here he suugiit and found employment with 
the wealthy gentlemen whose names have been given, who fitted out two ves- 
sels, the I^atienve and the Ikart's East. Of the first. Hall, the leader of the 
expedition, was captain; the pilot was William Baffin. 

This is his first real appearance in history, as he steps aboard the good ship 
Patience, lying in the Humber, ready to sail for Greenland, early in Api-il, 
1()12. The J'aliinre was numned by forty men and boys, the Hcnrf.H Ease by 
twenty. The 10th of April they were all ready to sail, but were obliged to 
wait twelve days for a favorable wind. Their voyage .seems to have been 
without danger, as they steered a little north of west acrossthc Atlantic; and 
May 13 some of the sailors asserted that they saw land. As there was a snow 
storm raging at the time, the others did not think tliat they could be sure of 
it. The next day, however, these assertions were confirmed; and Baffin de- 
cided, from the observationswhich he had made, that this was Cape Farewell, 
the southernmost point of Greenland; so named by John Davis twenty-five 
years before, because he could not reach it on account of the ice. 

The same difficulty beset these later navigators; and for several days they 
made vain efforts to find a landing-place, free from the drifting ice which 
constantly threatened them. On the 17th, as the record tells us: " This day 
we run among the ice, and were inclosed with the ice, so that we could get no 
passage to the northward; and so we were forced to stand out again, and were 
glad that God had delivered us from among it." 

Passing the part of the land which had been named Desolation, the next 
oromontory which they saw was one which they named Cape C'omfort. As, 
however, it was so encompassed with ice that the ships could not reach it, it 
was rather cold Comfort. 

Not until the 28th did they find a landing-place; where, the vessels having 
anchored, Hall set some of his men to work putting the ])innace together, 
while he took the shallop and another boat, and went to explore the coast 
more minutely than could l)e done in a larger vessel. 

Here thej' were visited, day after day, by tlic Esquimaux, who came in their 
skin-boats, or kayaks, manifesting the most friendly sentiments. It was a 
little inconvenient, however, to entertain such guests, for they stole every- 
thing on which they could lay their hands, being especially fond of iron. 
Early in June they improved their opi)oi-tunities one night by stealing a gun 
which a careless sentry, coming to warm himself at the tire, had left at his 



BAFFIN AND ARCTIC KXPLOKATIONS. 551 

post. This Esquimau was probablj the iirst native of America who ever oh- 
taiued possession of such an article. We have no record, however, of his 
stealingany powder or ball, so it is hard to see what good the gun could do him. 
The musket was recaptured the next day. One of the sailors "catching hold 
of one of the salvages, another did cast a dart athim, and struck him into the 
body with it, which gave him his death's wound. Also the salvage he took 
we hauled into the ship, and by him we had our musket again; for two of 
the salvages being aged men, and rulers of the rest, came with great reverence 
to know the occasion we had taken one of their men ; we with signs and other 
tokens did show them the occasion, being the best language we all had 
amongst us, delivering their man, his boat, oars, and darts. Our general 
gave unto him a coat, a knife, and a seeing-glass also, to requite the injury 
we had done; yet he, with a frowning look, desiring to be gone from us, we 
let him go out of the ship, and helping him into the chains, he leaped over- 
board, and the other two did help him ashore; and when be was ashore, the 
salvages cutoff the coat our master gave him, so little did they regard it. It 
was made of yellow cotton, with red gards of other cotton about it." 

This occurred off the coast of what Davis had nametl Gilbert Sound, but 
which the newcomei-s called the Harbor of Hope. The modern Danish settle- 
ment of Godthaab is situated upon this inlet, and is the principal settlement 
in South Greenland. Their next anchorage was off the point where Sukkert- 
oppen. the most populous place in Greenland at the present day, was founded 
in 17.').'). From this point. Hall proceeded in the pinnace; andaft.erthe ships 
had weighed anchor and continued their voyage to the northward, he fre- 
((uently left them, to explore the coast in this smaller vessel. The re- 
sults of these voyages were of no general interest; and we let Baffin tell 
us of an occurrence during July, when the ships lay near Cunningham's 
Fiord. 

" Wednesday, the two and twentieth day, aliout nine or ten of the clock, 
the savages came to barter with us, being about forty of them ; and contin- 
ued about an hour and a half; at which time our master, James Hall, being 
in the boat, a savage with his dart struck him a deadly wound upon the right 
side, which our surgeon did think did pierce his liver. We all mused that 
he should strike him, and offer no harm to any of the rest; unless it were 
that they knew him since he was here with the Danes; for out of that river 
they carried away five of the people, whereof never any returned again ; and 
in the next river they killed a great number. And it should seem that he 
who killed him was either brother or some near kinsman to some of them 
that were carried away; for he did it very resolutely, and came within four 
yards of him. And for aught that we could see, the people are very kind 
one to another, and ready to revenge any wrong offered to them. All that 
day he lay very sore pained, looking for death e\eiT hour, and resigned all 



5.V2 



HAl-l IN AM) ARCTIC EXI'LOUATIONS. 



his charge to Master Andrew Barker, master of the lIvarl'K A\isf , willing' 
him to place another in his room master of the small ship. Thursday, the 
three and twentieth, about eight of the clock in the morning, he died, being 
very penitent for all his former offenses. And after we had shrouded him we 
carried him in the shallop, to bury him in some out island, according to his 
.own request while he was living. After we had buried him, wc went in the 
shallop to seek for the mine, which wc had expected so long." 




Baffin in the Arctic Kkoions. 

Hall had found some glittering bits of mica, during his former voyages, 
among the rocks of the coast of Greenland; and supposed them to be silver. 
It was this supposed silver mine of which they were now in search. They 
discovered, the next day, the place where the Danes had been digging; and 
bits of a shining stone, which abounded there, were submitted to a goldsmith 
who was on board. After careful examination, he pronounced them value- 
less, since there was no metal in the stone, but only mica. 

This was a great disappointment to those on board, for the discovery of 
this silver mine was one of the objects of their journey. Efforts were made 
to trade with the natives, in the hope that they might thus accomplish 
enough to enable them to make a favorable report; but the Esquimaux 
.seemed to think that in killing Hall they had committed a crime which 
the whites were not likely to pardon, and that all efforts to get them 



BAFFIN AND ARCTIC E.\i>I-OUA 1 IONS. 553 

near the ships were only endeavors to get them within range of the guns. 

In the midst of these disappointments, dissatisfaction with their new chief 
ruled on board the ships ; and there was some danger of mutiny. After some 
discussion, however, the officers of the ships succeeded in persuading all the 
crews to accept Barker as their commander, and the danger was averted. 

Three days after the burial of Hall, the officers of the two vessels met to 
consider the question of returning home; "because that since our master 
was slain, none of the savages would trade with us as they were wont." The 
finding that the supposed silver mine was worthless had as much to do with 
their decision, probably, as the failure of the savages to trade with them; but 
the above is the reason given by Baffin in his account of the voyage. 

Accordingly, on Tuesday, August 4, they got to sea; and, after a voyage 
without events of interest, came to anchor in Hull Road, September 17, 1612. 
This voyage shows nothing new accomplished in the way of discovery, for 
Hall had while under the direction of the King of Denmark explored all 
these coasts. It is of interest only because it is Baffin's first recorded voyage, 
and made him acquainted with the difficulties and dangers of an effort to ex- 
plore the Arctic waters. The account from which we have quoted is full of 
curiously minute observations of the heavenly bodies, showing Baffin to have 
been skilled in calculating his position; and somewhat of an original genius, 
since he frequently explains, as novelties, his methods of taking observa- 
tions and applying the results in such a way as to obtain the desired informa- 
tion from them. With these astronomical and mathematical triumphs, how- 
ever, the present volume does not deal; since they are beyond the understand- 
ing of all but those scientists who would jirefer to study them in the original. 

The next year, Baffin again took service under the same company of mer- 
chants, but not to the west again. Sir Thomas Button had not yet returned 
from his quest for Hudson, and it is possible that they wished to wait for 
him. Baffin was to go in the opposite direction. 

As early as 1597 the English had made great efforts to monopolize the whale 
fisheries a})out Spitzbergen; and in l(il2the Muscovy Company had obtained 
a charter excluding all vessels from any country from these fisheries. In 1613, 
they decided to send a fleet large enough to enforce this charter by driving off 
other vessels; and six good ships, fitted out by them for this purpose, sailed 
from Queensborough May 13 of that year, Baffin being pilot onboard the Ad- 
miral's vessel. 

The vessels were engaged in whale-fishing, and in beating off those vessels 
manned by natives of other countries which persisted in contesting their rights 
under the charter. Baffin's time was occupied in observations of the latitude 
and longitude, and of the variations of the compass. He records, also, de- 
scriptions of whale-fishing as carried on at that time. They returned to Eng- 
land at the close of the summer, entering the Thames Sept. 6. 



554 UAl TIN AM) AKCTIC KXl'LOHATIONS. 

The following year, 1()14, the .«:uue coiiiijany sent out a larger fleet, corifiist- 
ing of eleven sliips and two pinnaces, under the command of Master Benja- 
min Joseph and the pilotage of Battin. They set sail out of Tilbury Hope 
May 4; and, after a voyage of three weeks through open seas, encountered 
much straggling ice, through which, however, they passed without danger 
for several days. Then the vessels wore separated by a storm, and two of 
them lost sight of; while the others were so shut in by the ice that "every 
one wrought the best means he could for the safety of his ship." They ar- 
rived off Spitzbergeu June 3. Here the harbor, much to their surprise, was 
open; and, as no whale had been seen tliat season, they decided to proceed to 
the northward. . In order to enter shallow inlets and rivers, Baffin took the 
shallop of the vessel in which he sailed, and proceeded with a few men to tlie 
northward of Maudlin Sound, where the ships anchored for some time. lie 
reached a point which he called Cape Barren, though he does not seem to 
have known that it was a headland on a small island near the mainland of 
Sjiitzbergen. Further than this he could not go, because of the masses of 
floating ice which lay between him and the shore, and threatened to grind his 
boat to atoms. 

Theonly account which we have of this voyage was written by Robert Foth- 
erby, who seems to have been second in command on board the 'J'/iotnasiiir. 
in which ship, also, Baffin sailed; and we find many mentions of tiie great 
navigator's name in this story of the Vf)yage. If Master Fotherby went out 
in a shallop one day. Master Baffin went out the next day; sometimes they 
went out, in different boats, at the same time, appointing a rendezvous. 
When all their explorations failed to show them ashore that was clear of ice, 
still anoth(n' plan was tried. 

"Now we found the ice so close packed together that we could not proceed 
any further with our shallops; wherefore Master Baffin and I intended to walk 
over land until we should be better satisfied how far this sound went in, for 
Ave could as yet see no end of it, and it seemed to make a separation of the 
land; so, leaving our men here with the shallops, we traveled almost a league 
further, till we came to the point of a sandy beach that shot into the sound, 
which was w-onderf uUy stored with driftwood in great abundance . From this 
point we received such satisfaction as we looked for, because we saw the end 
of the sound, which lies south in about ten leagues. It hath in it a harbor that 
is landlocked; and doubtless it is a good place for the whale-killing, if it be 
not every year, as it is now, pestered with ice. Here I saw a more natural 
earth and clay than any that I have seen in all the country, but nothing grow- 
ing thereupon more than in other places. Tiiis sound is that which formerly 
had, and still retaineth, the name of Sir Thomas Smith's Inlet." 

The friends were mistaken when they thought they saw the end of the 
sound or inlet; for later exphn-ers have dubbed it Hinlopen Sti'ait. having 



BAFFIN AND ARCTIC EXPLORATIONS. 555 

found it to be a passage separating the two parts of Spitzbergon, New Fries- 
land and Northeast Land. They returned to their shallops, however, in con- 
tented ignorance; and, seeing no way of jjrogressing any further, went back 
to the ship. 

Through the adventures of the whale tishery we need not follow thcni; for, 
while the crew were engaged in killing the monsters of the deep, the pilot 
was busily making the calculations which his observations were to render 
valuable; for Baffin tlid good service to science by faithfully observing and 
recording the variations of the needle. They reached England October 4. 

While Baffin had been thus employed in Spitzbergcn, his patrons had sent 
out another expedition to the western seas, underthe command of Captain 
Gibbons. This officer had accompanied Sir Thomas Button, and had also the 
advantages of the services of Robert Bylot, who had followed Hudson and 
Button. Gibbons reached the coast of Labrador and anchored there in a bay, 
where he remained so long that his crew, tired out by inaction, dubbed it 
"Gibbons, his Hole." Having accomplished this wonderful feat of reaching 
Labrador and remaining there all summer, Captain Gibbons set sail in the 
autumn and returned to England. 

Such a course might well have disgusted the men at whose expense the ex- 
pedition had been titted out, and who looked for some return, either in dis- 
coveries made by faithful exploration of the coast, or in such news of mines 
or a passage to India as might promise to repay them the money which they 
had laid out. But they were too much in earnest to allow the matter to drop 
because one man had pi'oved unsuited to the task which he had undertaken. 
The Discnverij, which had successively borne Hudson, Button, and Gibbons to 
the American coast, was refitted for a fourth voyage. Robert Bylot was ap- 
pointed master, and William Baffin was made pilot. 

An excellent system of keeping log-books, devised by Cabot, was enforced 
by the Muscovy Company, and the officers of its ships were expected to take 
frequent astronomical observations. Baffin, who seems to have turned in- 
stinctively to such work, and had that love for it which a man naturally feels 
for an art which he has acquired under many difficulties, and in which he ex- 
cels, had received an excellent training while serving under the Company in 
his two Spitzbergen voyages, as well as in the j^revious voyage to Greenland, 
under the command of Captain Hall. There is still in existence the manu- 
script copy of his report of this second voyage to the western seas, the fourth 
of his which are recorded; and it has been carefully edited by more than one 
English scholar of distinction. Accompanying the rc[)ort which wo have 
mentioned, is a transcript from his log-book, which he entitles: "A True Re- 
lation of Such Things as Happened in Fourth Voyage for the Discovery of a 
Passage to the Northwest, Performed in the Year 1G15."' Fronr this, as the 
only authority which we have upon the sul)ject, and the best possible, had we 



5515 KAKKl.V AND ARCTIC! EXPLOKATIONS. 

ever SO many, we extract enough passages to give the history of the voyage. 

"Tlie cliief master and commander under (Jod, was Roliert Bylot, a man 
well experienced that ways, having been employed the three former voyages ; 
myself being his mate and associate, with fourteen other men and two boys. 
This ship being in readiness, ui)on the l.")th day of March came aboard Mr. 
John Woltsenholme, Esquire, one of the chief adventurers, aud with him Mr. 
Alwin Gary, husband for the voyage. Who having delivered our master his 
conmiission, and read certain orders to be observed by us in the voyage, 
giving us good exhortations, and large promises of rewards, as trel)le wages 
to all, if the action were performed, they departed, charging us to make what 
speed we could away. So the next day, being Thursday, wo weighed anchor 
at St. Catherine's, and that tide came to Blackwall; and the next day to 
Cravesend; and the morrow after to Lee. * * * With indifferent winds and 
weatlier we came to anchor in Scilly the twentj'-sixth day. * • • We stood for 
Padstowe in Cornwall, « * * * and came to anchor in the harbor; and here 
we stayed, having much foul weather and ccnitrary winds. • • * The ]!Hh of 
April in the morn we weighed anchor, the wind southeast a good gale, we 
keeping our courses as in the brief Journal you may more conveniently see. 
And seeing few things of note happened in our outward bound voyage, I re- 
fer all other things to that tal)le before noted. "" 

Sighting the coast of Greenland ]May (i, at a point just east of Cajx- Faic- 
well, they found themselves in the midst of icebergs of immense size. Baftin 
measured several, tindingthe largest two hundred and forty feet above the 
water; and calculating that if only one-seventh of the mass be above water, 
this iceberg nmst have been one thousand six hundred and eighty feet from 
the top to the bottom. 

Bylot consulted BafHn about trying to get the ship within the ice, or between 
the ice and the shore. Baffin scarcely thought this a wise proceeding, but 
yielded to the longer experience of Bylot in these waters. ".Vfterwe were 
entered into the ice, it was not long before we were fast set up, but sometimes 
of the tide the ice would a little open, then we made our way as much to the 
northwest as we could; yet we plainly found that we were set to the south- 
ward, although the wind were southwardly." 

Leaving the coast of Greenland, some time was spent in trying to reach 
Resolution Island, which was finally sighted May 27. They anchored their 
ship to a piece of ice for the first night; nor were they able to find a more 
stable anchorage until June 1, when they found a good harbor on the west- 
ern side of this island. Here they went ashore, finding no certain sign of in- 
habitants, but tracks of bears and foxes on the rocky ground. 

They continued their course about this island until about the <Sth of June, 
when they stood off toward some smaller islands to the north, <h'termined to 
come to anchor among them. Here they sent a boat nearer the shore, to see 



BAFFIN AND ARCTIC EXPLORATIONS. 



557 



if the island were inhabited; the sailors returned saying that they saw tents 
and boats, and a number of dogs; but no people. 




Baffin Exploi l^ iiu Coast or Giefntand 
" Then by and by we went to prayer, and after our men had supped, we fit- 
ted our boat and selves with things convenient; then myself and seven others 
landed, and went to the tents, where finding no people, we went to the tope 
of the hill, where we saw one great canoe, or boat, having about fourteen 
persons in it. * * * * Then I called unto them, using some words of 
Greenlandish speech, making signs of friendship. They did the like to us; 
but seeing them to be fearful of us, and we not willing to trust them, I made 
another sign to them, showing them a knife and other small things, which I 



,").iK HAI TIN AND ARCTIC KXl'l.OKATIONS. 

left on the topcof tlio hill. • • • • Being retuiiied to the tents, we found 
s;onic whiiic tins to the number of fourteen or fifteen, wliieh I took aboard , 
leaving knives, beads and counters instead thereof. And among other of 
tlieir houseliold, I found in a small leather bajr a company of little images of 
men; and one tlie image of a woman with a child at her l)ack; all the which 
1 brought a way."' 

They now proceeded up Hudson Strait, progressing slowly t)n account of 
the ice. They came in sight of Salisbury Island July 1 ; and the next morning 
found themselves close to a snnill island, where tiic "great extremity anil 
grinding of the ice" was such that they named it Mill Island. 

From this point they advanced toward Nottingham Island, itbeingthe judg- 
ment of both master and pilot that as much should be done as possible to 
explore the great bay which they were now entering. Rut little was ac- 
complished; and they soon turned eastward again, passing Resolution Island 
August 3, and sighting (^ape Clear, in Ireland, Sept. 6. Baftin continues: — 

" The next morning by daylight we were fair by Scilly, and that night, at 
two o'clo(^kthe next morn, we came to anchor in Plymouth Sound, without 
the loss of one man. For these and all other blessings the Lord make us 
thankful. 

"And now it may be that some expect I should give my opinion concerning 
the passage. To those my answer must be, that doubtless there is a passage. 
But within this strait, whom is called Hudson's Strait, I am doubtful, sup- 
posing the contrary. But whether there be, or no, I will not affirm. But 
this I will aftirm, that wo have not been in any tide than that from Resolution 
Island, and the greatest indraft of that cometh from Davis' Straits; and my 
judgment is, if any passage within Resolution Island, it is but some creek or 
inlet, but the main will be up Fretum Davis [Davis' Strait], but if any be de- 
sirous to know my opinion in particular, I will at any time be ready to show the 
best reasons I can, either by word of mouth or otherwise." 

Baffin's opinion that there was doubtless a Northwest Passage from the 
Atlantic to the Pacitic Ocean was shared by all the geographers of his day, 
and by niendiauts as well. Perhaps the latter class of men clung obstinately 
to the belief because they wished to believe it; certainly Baffin's report was 
received by his employers with much more favor than would have been the 
case had he insisted that even if such a passage existed, it would be rendered 
useless by being choked up with ice. Yet his experience of the coast of 
Greenland and of Hudson Strait would have justified him in expressing such 
an opinion. 

The Company seems to have been well pleased with what had been accom- 
plished during thi.s voyage; and the IJit^cover-yv/ns at once refitted for another 
voyage, Bylot being named as master again, while Baffin once more served as 
pilot. The crow consisted of fifteen other men. It is to be remarked how 



BAFFIN AND ARCTIC KXI'LOEATIONS. 559 

small was the number of persons with which these daring English navigators 
crossed the ocean. The Discovery was a vessel of but fifty-five tons' burden; 
and her crew, on these voyages across the ocean, rarely numbered more than 
twenty men. 

The vessel was ready to sail March 2(), and did set sail from Gravesend 
that day; but contrary winds kept her beating about the coast of England un- 
til April 20th. The voyage, says Baffin, was without any event worthy of note; 
they came in sight of land May 14. This was the coast of Greenland about 
the latitude of Sukkertoppen, which, we have seen, was visited by Baffin in 
his first voyage to this coast. Much to the disappointment of some of the 
natives, they did not anchor at once, but pushed a little farther north before 
landing to secure supplies of fi"esh water. 

June 30 they came in sight of the farthest point which Davis had reached, 
Hope Sanderson, a little to the north of what we now know as Svartehuk. 
On the islands where they landed they found women, but no men ; the women 
making signs that the men were on the main land or on a neighboring island. 
They made friends with the women, and engaged to take them across to the 
place where the men were, but were unable to find the place. They called 
the island where they had landed The Women's Island. 

In passing to the northward, they thought that if they stood out from shore 
they would be safer from the ice than if they kept close to land. In this sup- 
position they were mistaken; for in these waters at least, the attempt to take 
the middle pack is very perilous, it being much safer to stick to the land-tioe 
until Melville Bay is passed. But these were the first European navigators 
who had sailed in these waters, to which the name of the great pilot has since 
been given; and the nature of the currents which bear the ice was not then 
understood. 

Finding that they could not possibly make their way through the middle 
pack, they returned to shore, and came to anchor among many islands, a lit- 
tle above the northern extremity of Upernavik Bay. Here again they were 
visited by some of the natives, who seemed very willing to trade with them. 
They offered, in addition to sealskins, so many pieces of the teeth and horns 
of walruses, that the master and pilot agreed to call this place Horn Sound. 
This name, however, has not been retained on modern maps. 

The first of July their hopes of finding a passage to the Pacific were in- 
creased by the circumstance that they entered a sea clear of ice ; but the con- 
dition of the tides did not bear out this supposition. 

Sir Dudley Digges Cape and Wolstenholme Sound bear witness to the re- 
spect and gratitude of the seamen for their employers; while Hakluyfs Island 
was named in honor of an eminent geographer of the time. 

They reached the entrance to what we now know as Smith's Sound, but to 
which they gave the longer name of Sir Thomas Smith's Sound, about the 



OGO HAFI'IN AND ARCTIC K.\I-I,ORATI<)XS. 

')th. Hero Biitliu noted the variation of the needle was greater than at any 
other point on the earth, and he reflected that this disproved the generally 
accepted theory. It was then supposed that the mass of earth attracted the 
needle, so that the variation was greatest in the direction of the greatest 
arnountof land ; but, he argued, the mass of Asia must be " unspeakal)ly more 
than here there can be, yet here is more variation than about Japan or Brazil, 
Peru, etc." It may be well to remind the reader that much greater variations 
liave since been oliserved. 

Guiding their course by the numei'ous islands which sprinkle these north- 
ern waters, they crossed Smith Sound and began their southward course 
along the western shore of Baffin's Bay. Alderman Jones and Sir James 
Lancaster were honored as others of the Company had been, by having a 
sound given their full name, including the title; in our day all but the sur- 
name has disappeared from the map. 

"Now seeing that we had made an end of our discovery, and the year being 
too far spent to go for the bottom of the bay to search for dressed fins, there- 
fore we determined to go for the coast of Greenland to see if we could not 
get some refreshing for our nien, * * » • three having kept their cabins 
above eight days, besides Richard Waynam, which died tlie2fith of July, * * 
* * and divers more of our company so weak that they could do but little 
labor. So the wind favoring us, wo came to anchor in Cockin Sound. The 
next day, going on shore on a little island, we found great abundance of the 
herb called scurvy grass, which we boiled in beer, and so drank thereof, 
using it also in salads, with sorrel and orpen, which here groweth in abund- 
ance; by means hereof, and the l)lessing of God, all our men within eight or 
nine days" space were in perfect health, and so continued until our arrival in 
England. " 

The (ith of August they were clear of the coast of Greenland; and after 
the unusually short period of nineteen days, sighted the coast of Ireland. 
The 30th of August they anchored at Dover, "for the which and all other 
blessings the Lord make us thankful." 

Purchas, who was the first publisher of an account of Bafiin's voyages, found 
the making of maps too expensive, and hence omitted those which the pilot had 
prepared. This omission, together with that of his tabulated journal, caused 
the geographers of the next two hundred years to make many mistakes con- 
»erningthe coursewhich he pursued and the places which ho discovered. In 
lourseof time, the very existence of Bafiin's Bay came to be questioned. The 
subject may be well presented by the brief description of a scries of five 
maps. 

In the first, dated 1(535, the map-drawer evidently had at hand that which 
Baffin himself pre])ared ; it is tolerably correct, giving a fairly good idea of the 
outlines of the coast of Greenland and the southern part of the i.sland now 



BAFFIN AND ARCTIC EXPLORATIONS. 5(il 

known as Baffin Land. The western shore of Baffin's Bay is represented as 
an unbroken line of coast, where our modern maps show a number of islands. 

The second map, although only a year later, shows things as the map- 
drawer evidently thought they ought to be. Baffin's Bay is a great basin 
northwest of Baffin's Land, or Cumberland Island, as it was then called; a 
broad passage connecting it with Hudson's Bay. 

An atlas published in 1720 shows considerable doubt on the subject. The 
j'reat bay is outlined nearly as in the first map mentioned, but there is a line 
showing it as the second one had drawn it, with the note: "Some will have 
Baffin's Bay to run west, as far as this faint shadow." A map dated 1818 
boldly questions the very existence of this great body of water; it is indeed 
outlined, but the space bears the note: "According to the relation of William 
Baffin, 1616, but not now believed." It was not until Captain Koss and 
Lieutenant Parry, in the very year in which this map was published, rediscov- 
ered Baffin's Bay, that the mystery was finally cleared away and the great 
Arctic explorer of the time of King James I. received all the credit to which 
his accuracy as an observer and his gallantry and skill as a navigator had 
fairly entitled hini. 

Ross identified all the places mentioned and named by Baffin, and bears 
frequent testimony to his accuracy, especially as regards the latitude of Lan- 
caster Sound. In regard to the seventeenth century sailor, the nineteenth 
century explorer says: — 

"In re-discovering Baffin's Bay I have derived additional pleasure from 
the reflection that I have placed in a fair light before the public the merits 
of a worthy man and an able navigator, whose fate, like that of many others, 
it has not only been to have lost, by a combination of circumstances, the op- 
portunity of acquiring during his lifetime the fame which he deserved, but, 
could he have lived to this period, to have seen his discoveries expunged 
from the records of geography, and the bay with which his name is so fairly 
associated treated as a phantom of the imagination." 

Foiled in the endeavor to find a passage along the northern coast of America 
by which European vessels could pass into the Pacific Ocean and thence to 
the rich countries of the far East, it is probable that Baffin formed a plan by 
which, as bethought, this same purpose could be accomplished in another 
way. There had been many attempts to find the eastern extremity of such a 
jjassage, and all had failed; it might be far easier to find the western entrance, 
and then trace the course of the strait through to the Atlantic. 

It is not likely that a man who bad made five voyages to the Arctic re- 
gions, and had in the last one made such notable discoveries, would so far 
lose interest in the subject as to seek for employment in an entirely different 
part of the world; and we can only explain Baffin's efforts to obtain an ap- 
pointment under the East India Company by supposing that he had it in 



S(l2 )f.\Kl-I.\ AM) AH( lie KM'l.ol! A TIO.NS. 

his iniml to cross the Paoitic. frf)m Japan, seek a passage north of Ainorica, 
and make his wny through to the Atlantic, thus circumnavigating the gU)i)f 
without roiiiuling the two southerniost capes. He seems to have been wil- 
lingly received by them, and was i>,p])ointed as master's mate on board the 
Anne Koyal. 

Every year, since KiOl.tlie Kast India Coiiipaiiy liad sent rtut a fleet ; the 
profits that were derived from this trade were of fabulous amount; and 
ships, larger than any that the world had ever before seen, were built to 
bring home the rich cargoes from the East. One of these vessels was actu- 
ally of one thousand three hundred and twenty tons' burden, an enormously 
large vessel, in the judgment of men of the seventeenth centui-y, although 
less than one-tenth the burden of the Gn-at EaHiern. The ship on which 
Baffin sailed for this sixth recorded voyage of his, was of somewhat more 
than a thousand tons. The master was Andrew Shilling, a good sailor, who 
" was not inferior to any man for government." 

The fleet, which consisted of five vessels in all, was fitted out the winter 
after Baffin's return from the coast of Greenland, and was ready to sail early 
in February, 1(517. Tiie ships wore carefully inspected before they left port, 
and every precaution taken to prevent sickness, particularly scurvy. They 
weighed anchor March 5 ; and, after a prosperous voyage, arrived at Saldan- 
ha Bay, on the western coast of Cape Colony, June 21. Here a supply of 
cattle and sheep for the remainder of the voyage was obtained, though not 
without difficulty; and they continued their course to the Indies, arriving at 
Surat in the month of September. 

It was then determined to send Captain Siiilling to the lied Sea, to open 
up a trade with the countries surrounding it. Instructions were duly drawn 
up by the British Minister to the court of the Mogul, and three merchants 
were selected to conduct the business. In May, KilS, the vessel sailed on 
this errand; and Baffin's surveys and ol)s(n'vations of the coast of the Red 
Sea, which was explored with considerable thoroughness, are at the founda- 
tion of a good deal of our knowledge concerning that historic bodj' of water. 
Later in the year, the Anne Royal was in the Pei'sian Gulf, where Baffin 
again made good use of his time, observing and surveying the coasts. Re- 
turning thence to Surat, the Anne Royal began her voyage homeward in Feb- 
ruary, 1619, and arrived in the Thames in September. 

Of course, when Baffin formed his plan for discovering the Northwest 
Passage by l)eginning at the Pacific end, he did not expect his first voyage to 
the Indies to afford him the desired o))portunity. It would seem, from vari- 
ous indications, that he was by no means an old man at this time; although 
he had outlived the impatience of youth, he had not yet lost his youthful 
hopefulness and spirit. He had laid a good foundation for such an enter- 
prise in the future, by securing the favor of the great East India Company. 



BAFFIN AND ARCTIC EXPLORATIONS. 563 

That such favor was won and deserved, is shown hy a single entry in their 
i-ecords : — 

"William BafBn, a master's mate in the ^linie, to have a gratuity for his 
pains and good art in drawing out certain plots of the coast of Persia and the 
Red Sea, %yhich are judged to have been very well and artificially performed; 
some to be drawn out by Adam Bowen, for the benefit of such as shall be em- 
ployed ia those parts." 

Thus, we see, Baffin's charts were not only regarded as well done, but they 
were made to serve as copies for the official charts furnished by the Com- 
pany to its employes. 

Captain Shilling had done his work so well that he was advanced to the 
command of the next fleet sent out. Four new vessels comprised it, the 
building of which was not completed before the end of 1619. The largest of 
these, called the London, \5«is Shilling's flag-ship, and while the masters of 
the others were selected and appointed by the Company, he was permitted 
to choose the master of this. He named for the position William Baffin, 
with whose merits as a seaman he had had ample opportunity to get ac- 
quainted during the long voyage preceding this, in which Baffin had served 
under his eye. 

Thus after many years of patient and skillful labor, we see the great navi- 
gator appointed, for the first time, to the command of a large ship. It is a 
circumstance without parallel, wo believe, in the annals of discovery, that a 
man who did what Baffin did for geography should have been in a subordi- 
nate position until long after the period at which he achieved those things 
on which his fame rests. 

The fleet sailed from the Downs March 25, reaching Saldanha Bay just 
three months later. As they rounded the Cape it became a serious question 
whether they should go to the east or the west of Madagascar, then called 
the Island of St. Lawrence; Baffin, of course, being one of those who anx- 
iously discussed it, and having no small voice in the decision. 

After a longer voyage than usual they anchored in Swally Road November 
9. Hardly had they come to anchor before news was received that a com- 
bined Portuguese and Dutch fleet was lying off Jashak, near the entrance to 
the Persian Gulf, waiting to attack the ships of the British East India Com- 
pany. The fleet at once sailed to Jashak, and on the Kith of December 
9,ame in sight of two large Portuguese ships and two smaller Dutch vessels. 
The fight began at once, and lasted for nine hours without a pause. The 
Portuguese were then glad to anchor, in order to repair damages to their 
vessels; while the Englishmen were not sorry to have an opportunity to draw 
a long breath. The fleet under Shilling's command withdrew to the Jashak 
Roads, and the two fleets sullenly watched each other for ten days. A sec- 
ond and more decisive combat took place Dec. 28. This fight has been so 



564 BAFFIN AND ARCTIC KXPLORATIOXS. 

abl^' described by one who took part in it, tiiat we quote here an extract 
from the manuscript journal of Captain Swan, still preserved at the India 
Office in London: — 

" Our broadsides were brought up, and the good ordnance fi'om our whole 
fleet played so fast upon them that doubtless if the knowledge in our people 
had been answerable to their willing minds and ready resolutions, not one of 
their galleons, unless their sides were impenetrable, had escaped us. About 
three in the afternoon, unwilling, after so hot a dinner, to receive a like sup- 
per, they cut their cables and drove with the tide until they were withou 
range of our guns; and then their frigate came to them, and towed thcin 
away, wonderfully mangled and torn. Their Admiral, in the greatest fury 
of the fight, was enforced to heel his ship to stop the leaks, his main top- 
mast overboard, and the head of his mainmast. • » » » Qm- worthy 
Admiral, in the beginning of the .fight, received a great and grievous wound 
through the left shoulder, by a great shot, which hurt he with such patience 
and courage underwent, that it gave great hope to us all of his most wished 
recovery. But having, besides the wound, two of his ribs broken, this day, 
about noon, he departed this life, showing himself, as ever before, a resolute 
commander; so now, in his passage through the gates of death, a most will- 
ing, humble, constant, and assured Christian. His body was interred at .la- 
shak on the 0th, with all the solemnity, decency, and respect the time and 
place afforded." 

The death of Admiral Shilling made no difference in the standing of Baffin, 
w'ho continued as master of the London, while the commander of one of the 
other vessels, according to arrangements made by the Company, assumed the 
command of the fleet. The vessels returned to Surat in February. 

It had been arranged that this fleet was to have gone to the Ked Sea; but 
after the battle and the delays off the coast of Persia, it was thought to be too 
late in the season ; and the ships shaped a course to thecoastof Arabia. Baf- 
fin's ship was the first to put in to land, water and palm trees having been 
found nearthe little port of Sur on the Oman coast. The other ships were 
accordingly ordered to join company, and Sur was re-named London's Hope. 
Here they remained at anchor until August 1.5, when they all set sail for In- 
dia. 

About a hundred years before this time, the Portuguese, under the great 
Albuquerque, had establislu'd themselves in the Island of Onnuz. It had 
been the constant desire of the Shah of Persia to expel them, but no one who 
had held that rank had been able to do so. The reigning Shah now formed 
an alliance with the English for the purpose of driving out the Portuguese; 
and the fleet which had sailed from P^ngland under Shilling's leadership was 
to assault the town of Ormuz by sea, while it was closely beleaguered on land 
by a Persian army. 



BAFFIN AND ARCTIC EXPLORATIONS. 5(i.') 

The wall surrounding the town was of great height, with half moons, and 
flankers, and a deep dry moat to make the town the more secure. The En- 
glish proposed to laud, throw up embankmentsfor protection, and, mounting 
the great guns of their ships, batter down this wall with cannon-balls. Their 
plans were ably carried out; but the siege had lasted two days when it was 
found that the guns were not doing as much execution as had been expected. 
Evidently they were not at the proper inclination; and the learned mathe- 
matician, Master William Baffin of the London went ashore with his mathe- 
matical instruments, to take the height and distance of the wall, so that the 
gunner might find a range "for the better levelling of his piece." While 
thus employed, a shot from the beleaguered town struck him; heleaped three 
times into the air, says the ancient account, and fell dead upon the ground. 

Thus suddenly perished the great navigator, January 23, 1622. After hard 
struggling, he had reached such a position as most other discoverers had at- 
tained before starting out; and although his services to science are at least 
equal to those of many who have been accorded a greater degree of fame, he 
never met, in life, with the recognition awarded to those whose fortunes it was 
to be higher in the social scale. 

Baffin probably left no children; for we hear of no heir but his widow mak- 
ing a claim against the East India Company on account of her husband who 
died in their service. This claim, after the lapse of six years from the time 
of his death, was compromised by the payment of live hundred pounds ster- 
ling. 

In a little more than a week after the death of Baffin, the besieged fortress 
fell; and the town surrendered a few days afterward. What disposition was 
made of his body, we are not told with that attention to details which the 
chronicler has bestowed upon Captain Shilling. Shadowy in its beginnings, 
his life goes suddenly out, in the distant East, and no man knows where he 
lies buried. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

TAS\L\i\ rilK (iKKAT Dl TC'll XA Vl( ;AT< )i;. 

The Dutch East India Couipaiiy— lis Monopoly <tt' the .Spice Triide — SelllemonUs in thv 
lOiist Indies — Voyages of Discovery — Torres and Quiros — Tasnian's First Voyage— Instrur- 
tion — Discovery of Tiusniaiiia — Talcing Possession for Holland— New Zealand — Fight witli 
the Natives— Jla-ssacre Bay— Friendly Islands— Samoa— New (iuinea— A Sudden .Skirmish— 
flaking Knives fci Trading — Ueturn to Batavia— Second Voyage — Results of Exi)l()rations. 

liOliT 1602 or 16U3, Abel Jaiisen Tasniaii was born in Hoorn, in 
\ortli Holland. In the absence of all particnlars ret^arding his bo}- 
liood and edneation, and even his _vonii<f manhood, let ns see whaf 
were the inlluences atleeting at that time the yoniiif men of Holland who 
siiared the widely prevailini-; spirit of adventnre and discovery. 

Tlie Portuguese had long been in possession of a monopoly of the East 
Indian trade, and were envied by all the nations of Europe because of it. 
Spain iiad sought a passage to India by way of the West, anil had found 
America, witli the treasures of Mexico and Peru; England was sending her 
skilled seamen to seek the Northwest Passage to the Indies; and the Dutch 
endeavored to lind a Northeast Passage. Failing in this ellbrt, a native of 
Holland, Cornelius Houtman, followed in the track of the Portuguese and 
doubled the Cape of Good Hope in 1596. His success in reaching India 
caused an awakening of commercial interest, and several companies were 
formed for the purpose of trading witli the opulent East. In 1602 the 
(Government united all these into an organization called the Dutch East 
India Company. 

But trade between Holland and India had been tirnily established before 
this time, and the Dutch had almost a monopoly of the spice business. 
'I'liey raised the price of jjepper from three shillings to six and then to 
eight shillings a pound; so that the English became indignant at the ex- 
tortion, and broke the monopoly by the establishment of the English East 
India Company. But Dutch trade and Dutch settlements went steadily 
on ; Ceylon, Sumatra, the Moluccas, Java, all these were either wholly or 
partly subject to Holland ; and the city of Batavia was built on the island 
of Java, to be the capital of these colonies. 

Various expeditions were sent out for the exploration of the surroinuling 
waters ; and one under Dirk Hartog in l(il6 discovered a vast body of land 
which has since been named Australia. Later voyages veriKed its position, 
and something of its extent ; for the Dutch navigators followed a consider- 
able portion of its coast. The first expedition of Hartog left on the shore a 

(566) 



•lAS.MAN, THK (JKKAT i>i:T(ll NAVlGATOIt. 5(57 

tin plate engraved with a suitable recoril, and this was found within the 
present century; thus establishing beyond a doubt the fact of his discovery. 
The name of New Holland was given to the great island, and the Gulf of 
Carpentaria was named in honor of Peter Carpenter, then Governor of the 
Dutch East India Company; while various names of less importance were 
bestowed. So uninviting was the shore, however, that no attempt was made 
to colonize it; and twenty-five years after it was first seen by Ilartog, it was 
still practically unknown. 

Ten years before Ilartog sailed, the Spanish Government of Peru had sent 
out a ship under the command of Torres, who with his companion Quiros 
visited many of the islands of the Pacific Ocean and sailed through the strait 
between Australia and New Guinea, now called Torres Strait; but there is 
no evidence that they knew what great island lay to the southward. 

Thirty-six years after this Spanish discovery, and twenty-six after the voy- 
age of Ilartog, the colonial Government of Batavia resolved to send out an 
expedition for the exploration of the Pacific. Two vessels were accordingly 
prepared, which are called by the commander a yacht and a fly-boat; evi- 
dently of no great size. Captain Abel Jansen Tasman, who must have been 
a navigator of some note then, was selected as the commander; and it was 
understood that the objects of the expedition were chiefly to ascertain the 
extent of Australia and of neighboring islands. 

The Ileeniskirk and the Zeehahn, as the vessels were called, sailed from 
Batavia August 14, 1642. According to the instructions of the Governor and 
Council they were to sail through the Strait of Sunda and southwest by west 
until they reached a point fourteen degrees south of the equator, west-south- 
west to twenty degrees south, and then due west to the Island of Mauritius. 
After thus crossing the Indian Ocean from cast to west, they were to steer 
in a .southeasterly direction, then northeasterly, and finally return to Ba- 
tavia. 

Mauritius was sighted September 4, and on the next day they landed. 
Many hunting and fishing parties were sent on shore; and the vessels being 
delayed by contrary winds, did not sail from this island until October 8. 

We shall not attempt to follow them closely by means of the journal of 
I he voyage which Tasman published after his return; indeed, it is no light 
task to read this journal, and follow the course which they pursued; for the 
longitude is all reckoned from Teneriffe, as, he observes, every sailor reck- 
ons it; and the places visited were nearly all then unknown, and named ac- 
cordingly by their discoverer, while later navigators have given other names 
which popular usage has preferred. 

They went as far south as the forty-fifth parallel; but saw no land from 
the time that they left Mauritius until Noveniber 24, when, about the forty- 
fifth parallel and the hundred and forty-ninth meridian east from Greenwich, 



568 



TASMAN. Illl': CKKAT Dl r( II N A V K; Al( >K. 



they sighted a nioiuituinous country. The needle had varied greatly during 
the earlier part of their voyage, seeming to be in continued motion; but 
here it became comparatively true, and tliey Iiad hut little ditliculty with it. 




Kim, 1. 1) I'.'i Xaiim:- 



To this land Tasman gave the name of Van Diemcn's Land, in honor of 
'Master Anthony Van Diemen, our high magistrate the Governor-General, 
who .sent us out to make discoveries;" posterity, with a l)etter appreciation 
i)f the principle of giving honor where honor is due, has preferred to call it 
ijy a name derived from that of its discoverer — Tasmania. The Islands near 
by were named in honor of various members of the Council of India; though 
the Governor-General's wife. Maria, was not forgotten in this distribution of 
honors. 

Casting anchor off the coast, on the 2nd of the following month he sent the 
shallop and boat of the Zeeha/ni, well armed, to a bay about a mile to the 



TAS.MAN, THE GREAT DUTCH NAVIGATOR. 51)1) 

northwest to look for water and other provisions. The messengers found 
many greens like those at the Cape of Good Hope, and other phiuts resem- 
bling sea-parsley. While on shore they heard human voices, and sounds that 
resembled the noise made by a little gong or trumpet. They also discovered 
large trees, having steps about five feet apart, by means of which the summit 
might be reached; but of the inhabitants themselves they saw nothing. The 
carpenter was directed to set up a post here, and Tasman left the flag of the 
Prince of Orange flying upon it. Having thus taken possession of the island, 
they sailed away, losing sight of land December .5. 

Keeping to the course which had been marked out for them, they came in 
sight of South Island of the New Zealand group on the 14th, and closely fol- 
lowed the coast for some distance northward. On the 18th Tasman sent the 
shallop and boat on shore, as he had done off the coast of Van Diemeu's 
Land. They returned to the ship, accompanied by two native boats, the oc- 
cupants of which saluted those who had remained in the vessel with blowing 
of trumpets. Tasman does not tell us, however, what kind of trumpets they 
had; Cook would have described exactly the large shell from which it is 
probable that they were fashioned. 

These demonstrations were answered as made; but the sailors were not 
wholly assured of the friendliness of the natives. A strict watch was kept 
all night, and every gun kept in readiness to repel an assault, should such be 
made. The next day many other boats approached the ships and the same 
intercourse at a distance was continued. Tasman decided to send another 
party to land, and the Zeehahns boat was again made ready. As the oars 
swept her through the waters, the sailors on the ships as well as those who 
manned her heard the natives calling to one another, but having no acquain- 
tance with their language paid no attention to them. Suddenly, the canoes 
which had been between the two ships rushed with their beaks against the 
boat, and struck her with such force that they made her heel and take in 
water. The Quartermaster, who was on board, was struck with a blunt 
pointed pike with such force that he was knocked overboard; and Ji general 
attack upon the crew followed, in which three men were killed and one was 
mortally wounded. The Quartermaster and one other swam to the ship and 
were hastily taken on board. 

A boat was quickly manned with a more consideral)le party, and sent to 
the rescue; but, although the jjossession of the first bout was thus recoveretl, 
the men who had composed its crew hail been killed, with the exception of 
the two whose escape has been noted. The boat when recovered had in it a 
wounded man, who died shortly afterward, and thebody of onewho had been 
instantly killed; Avhile one of the slain had sunk into the sea and the body 
of the other was carried off by the natives. 

The ships weighed anchor; but even while making preparations for dejiart- 



.^70 



TA.s.MAN, TllK (UtKAT UITCII NAVRiATOK. 



lire from this hostile coast was almost surrounded by a fleet of native oanoes. 
Twenty-two of them advanced upon the Dutch vessels with every unfriendly 
demonstration that could be imagined. Suddenly from the white-winged 
strangers came a noise as of thunder, and a Hash of flame and smoke; and 
something, the New Zealanders knew not what, crashed through one of their 
canoes and sent the vessel and its crew to the bottom. While they were still 
almost stunned with surprise, another shot came; and they turned and fled 
from the neiffliborhood of such dreadful beings. 




Fight ^^^T^ Canoks. 
In commemoration of the killing of his men, Tasmaii named Ihis 



inlet 



Moordenaar's. Murderers' or Massacre Bay. The land at which he had touched 
he called Staten Land, judging it ''possible that this land joins to Staten 
Land," the island of that name near the southeastern extremity of Terra del 
Fuego. Tasmau certainly did not overrate the extent of the ocean which he 
was exploring. 
Standing out to sea they landed again this time at North Island, January "i. 



TASMAN, THF; (;KKAI' 1>ITCI1 NAVIGAIOK. 571 

a party being sent ashore for water. They saw from the ship about thirty-five 
very tall natives armed with clubs, and, fearing mischief, called to those who 
had landed. The boat at once returned and the ships sailed away. 

The next day they landed at an island which they called The Three Kings' 
Island, because it was discovered on Epiphany. Their course now lay among 
the Friendly Islands, one of wiiichthey named Amsterdam, "for we found 
plenty of refreshments here." Landing on that island which they called Mid- 
dleburgh they began trading with the natives; and thinking to gain the 
friendship of the chief Tasman offered him a glass of wine. It was declined, 
with evident doubt of his intentions. To show that his suspicions had no 
foundation in fact, Tasman drank the wine himself; and re-filling the glass, 
again offered it to the chief . It was taken this time; and the savage, delib- 
erately emptying the wine into the sea, coolly took possession of the glass. 

The chief sent on board, after his return to shore, a present consisting of 
a hog, some cocoanuts and yams. The next day Tasman went ashore at the 
chief's cordial invitation, and a talk of some length, considering the difficul- 
ties in the way of comnmnication, was had. The Captain's statement that he 
had been more than a hundred days at sea provoked the greatest astonish- 
ment on the part of the natives, who looked with admiring wonder upon what 
seemed to them such great vessels. 

Tasman proposed to set up a white flag, in token of peace between them ; 
and the natives, greatly pleased, assented ; giving as much assistance as they 
could, and standing by in crowds as his men worked. He then sailed toward 
other islands nearby, one of which he named Rotterdam ; and here the trad- 
ing with the natives was continued. The sight of some well-kept gardens 
recalled pleasing memories of the prim and trim flower parterres and vegeta- 
ble beds of Holland; though the resemblance, probably, was not a very close 
one to any but homesick sailors. 

Leaving the Friendly Islands Tasman proceeded to that group known to us 
as the Samoan or Navigators' Islands. To one of these he gave the name of 
Prince "William's Island; and to another, not far off, that of Onthona Java. 
The latter is now known as Pleasant Island. He landed here, but the natives 
seemed to set no value on the things that wei-e given them; and, finding 
it thus impossible to open trade with them, he again embarked, landing 
next at New Hanover. Here his efforts to trade jDroved more successful ; but 
the stay was uneventful. 

Passing the Admiralty Islands he anchored off the coast of New Guinea. 
The natives approached the ships and there was a little intercourse. At the 
island named Moa, while the sailors were engaged in cleaning the ship, the 
natives, who constantly surrounded the vessels, hovering curiously about 
them, appeared friendly enough; but suddenly one of them shot an arrow 
toward the ship, wounding a seaman in the thigh. Orders were at once given 



572 



TASMAN, TllK (iKKAT 1)1 TCll N A\ I(i A l( »I{. 



to meet the attack which it was thought now thrcateuod; and a volley of 
niuslcetiy was discharged at the canoes. One of the natives was wounded iu 
the arm ; the others do not seem to have been huit, as the shots were more 
to frighten them than to work actual injury. The vessels then took up their 
anciiors, a better harbor having been found. But the savages thought that 




Kin. 1 >i:m(in>] i;ai i 



this meant pursuit; and, alarmed at this, as well as at the nature of the arms 
carried by the strangers, they hastened to make peace. They came in great 
numbers in their canoes, each man holding up a branch of a tree as a symbol 
of the peace which was desired. To sliow that they disclaimed all sympathy 



TASMAN, THU UREAT UlTril NANUiATOR. 573 

with the, man who liad .shi)t the arrow, thoy sent hiiu on board the ships. 
Tasniau, however, conehidcdthat they had been taught the lesson which they 
needed, and employed the offender as a messenger of peace. 

As a result of this slight skirmish the sailors were able to trade to much 
better advantage than at first; as the natives, thoroughly frightened and sub- 
dued, seemed willing to accept anything that was offered in exchange for 
their goods. So much demand was there for articles of European manufac- 
ture that the stock was in danger of giving out; and to prevent this knives 
were fashioned by the sailors for trading purposes only, out of pieces of 
hoop-iron, "somewhat" brightened and sharpened, and set in rudely whit- 
tled handles. 

They weighed anchor May G, but contrary winds prevented their leaving 
this coast for eight days. From >.'ew Guinea they went to New Zealand, where 
they met with no trouble from the natives; and thence they returned to Bata- 
via, which they reached June 15, 1643. "God be praised for this happy voy- 
age. Amen," says devout Captain Tasman. 

Tasman made another voyage, under instructions which are dated January 
29, 1044; but of this there is no detailed record. It is known that he 
visited the coast of Australia, and explored the northwest coast, landing at 
several places; but the natives, whom he pronounced a " malicious and mis- 
ei'able race of savages," proved so hostile that he was unable to do much 
toward exploring the country when he had landed. 

There is no further record of the achievements of this sailor, who is ranked 
as one of the greatest navigators of his century. According to one authority, 
he never returned from the second voyage just mentioned; but others, more 
credible, say that he lived fifteen years after the date of the instructions, 
dying at Batavia in October, 1659. It is probable that after his return from 
this second voyage he settled down to a quiet life in Java, enjoyingthe results 
of his toil and thrift in true Dutch fashion; and that he was thus lost sight 
,of by the chroniclers, who hence concluded that he died long before the date 
at which he actually departed this life. 

Tasmau's discoveries were not followed up by his countrymen ; for they 
soon had use for all their ships in something else than discovery and explora- 
tion. Holland was engaged in a naval war with England, which lasted, with 
frequent intermissions, until the accession of the Prince of Orange to the 
''ithrone of England as William III. in 1688-9. When this prince was firmly 
established in his new dignity, and the war was forever at an end, the discov- 
eries were followed up; and half a century after Tasman visited Australia, it 
was taken possession of by British authorities, and has been held by them 
ever since; its old name of New Holland being replaced by that of Australia, 
or the Southern Land. 




(;ilA[*TEH xxir. 

VITUS BEIIRlXti, .THE RUSSiAJS XANlGATOli. 

Peter the Great and Russian Civilization — Establishing a Navy — Behring Enters the Rus- 
sian Service — Exploration of Siberia— Siberian Knowledge of America — Expeditions East- 
ward — First Expedition Under Beliring — Dilliculties — Exploration of Asiatic Coast — Passes 
Through Behring's Strait — Return to St. Petersburg — New Plans Proposed — A Second Expe- 
dition — Behring's Family — Personnel of the Expedition — Chirikof — Spanbcrg — Other Subor: 
dinates — Instructions — Preparations — Leaving St. Petersburg — Crcssing Europe and Asia — 
Ship-Building — Delays, Difficulties, and Investigations — Sets Sail at Last — Doubts as to 
Course — Separation of Ve.ssels — Chirikof Reaches America — Returns to Siberia — Behring Dis- 
covers Mount St. Eliits — A Discoverer without Enthusiasm — A Sudden Departure — Scurvy — 
Terrible Condition — Land Sighted — A Desert Island — Landing the Sick — The Long and Cruel 
Winter — Behring's Heroic Patience — His Death — Plans of Survivors — A Singular Question — 
Building a Vessel — Return to Kamschatka. 

K have styled liehring a Russian navigator, because, althougii he 
was of Danish birtli, lie made his voyages of discovery and ex- 
ploration while in the service of Russia. He was one of the ear- 
liest who brought distinction to the Crown of that great enij)ire by his 
achievements, because, until the closing years of the seventeenth century, 
Russia had been regarded as a country of barbarians ; and the fame of her 
great men hardly reached beyond her borders. 

Peter the (rreat was the father of Russian civilization. His meth.ods 
were not always the wisest ; for whatever reforms he desired must be made, 
whether they were adapted to the character of his people or not ; nor were 
they the gentlest ; he is said to have " knouted Russia into ci\ ilization." 
Anxious to enuilate the other countries of Europe, in imitation of which he 
had established schools, introduced manufactures, and disciplined his fol- 
lowers into soldiers, he resolved to have a navy. 

This aim was accomplished, and the navy was built. Its otficers must 
be drawn from foreign eountries until Russians could become trained sea- 
men ; and in this, as in so many other Russian enterprises, adventurers 
from abroad found a ready welcome and proiitable employment. Among 
those who came was V itus Behring. 

Born in Ilorsens, Denmark, in 1()8(), he w^as twenty-four years oKl when he 
entered the service of Peter the (jieat and became an officer in the newly 
formed Russian navy. He displayed so much ability and daring in the war 
with Sweden as to win the approbation of the Czar; which led to his ap- 
pointment in an expedition involving much hardship and danger. 

(574) 



BEHRINU, THK RUSSIAX NAVIUATOK. 575 

For the Czai" Lad resolved to explore the eastern part of Siberia and ascei-- 
tain what divided his dominions from America. What knowledge these peo- 
ple of the far East had of America we do not know; it seems reasonable to 
suppose that, with such a narrow strait separating the two continents, there 
must havelicen more or less intercourse. Only one tradition, however, has 
been preserved. In the year 1715 there lived in Kamchatka a man who said 




Petek the Great, Czar op Russia. 



he came from a country to the eastward, where, instead of the low shrubs 
bearing cedar-nuts with which the people of Kamchatka were familiar, there 
were large trees, bearing larger nuts; and that in this country there were 
great rivers, flowing westward into the sea which borders the country of his 
adoption. Many years ago, he said, he and some of his countrymen had em- 
barked in their skin-boats, suchasthe Kamchadalesuse,foroueof the islands 



."iTG HEHRINO, THE RUSSIAN NAVKiATOK. 

near the slioie; but they had been attacked by the islanders, and allshiin ex- 
cepting him, wiio had escaped to the strange country. 

Indications of this country's existence had often reached thesiioresof Asia; 
flocks of hmd-birds came from the east, and departed in tlie same direction ; 
whales were cast upon the coast with spear-heads in their backs; and thc-i- 
spear-heads were not like those used by the Kamchadales; even boats of for- 
eign make were washed upon their shores. The waves which brought these 
signs had a shorter swell than those which came from the south; so that it 
was clear that the sea was partly inclosed, and that the inclosurc was more 
complete toward the north. 

The Governor of Siberia sent out several exploring expeditions, some in 
boats by sea, others on the ice. The boats used measured al)out thirty feet 
long by twelve feet broad, and had a flat bottom calked with moss. The planks 
were fastened together with raw-hide thongs; and the sails were made of 
reindeer skin. In place of cables and ropes, strai)s of elk-skin were used, 
and the anchors were pieces of wood weighted with heavy stones. Those 
parties that journeyed on the ice used sledges drawn by dogs; and one of 
them was so reduced by hunger as to be obliged to eat the sledge-dogs and 
return on foot. 

These expeditions, as may be supposed, acconiplishcd but little in the way 
of discovery or exploration. It is true that there were some indomitabU- 
spirits among them; of these we may mention \'agin, who was the head of a 
party of twelve Cossacks, and whose expedition was the one reduced to such 
straits. They had come in sight of laud, as Vagin supposed; although his 
guide believed it to be only a mass of vapor seen in the distance ; and, in spite 
of the hardships and deprivations which they were suffering, he insisted up- 
on continuing the journey. Remonstrances proved useless; and his exasper- 
ated followers murdered him, his son and the guide. 

But all difficulties were as nothiiig, when the Czar willed that it should be 
ascertained exactly what divided Asia from America, and that an American 
Russia should be united to the Eurojjcan and Asiatic Russias. He drew up 
the instructions himself ; two decked boats were to be built at Kamchatka, 
and those who were to command and man them wen; to journey overland 
through Siberia. Behring was named commander, Spanberg and Chirikof 
his lieutenants. 

They set out, officers, ship-builders and seamen, February 2.t, 1.t2.'). On the 
eighth of the same month Peter died; but his schemes in this dirt-ction were 
faithfully carried out by his wife, the Empress Catluvine, who succeeded 
him. The journey, although they had at their command all the resources of 
the country — for they were sent by the Czar — was no child's play; and it was 
two years and a half before it was accomi)]ished, and the two small vessels 
built. August 21. 1727. Behring set sail from Okhotsk for the southern end 



BEHRING, THE RUSSIAN NAVIGATOR. 577 

of the peninsula of Kamchatka, only one vessel having been completed by 
that time. The construction of the second in this new location occupied 
nearly a j'ear; and it was the 20th of July, 1728, before they were ready to 
sail on the real purpose of their expedition. 

They followed the eastern coast of the peninsula closely until they reached 
the Gulf of Anadir, but without landing. Here they learned from the 
Tchukchis, who inhabit the country to the north, that they would come to a 
point where the coast turned again ',t the west; but received no definite in- 
formation regarding the distance whicn they had still to traverse. They were 
then in latitude 64 degrees, 30 minutes; and had advanced less than three de- 
grees when they found the truth of what they had been told. The land 
turned abruptly to the west. How far they followed this coast we have no 
means of knowing; but Bchring was fully convinced that he had reached the 
eastern extremity of Asia, and returned to Kamchatka, nvhere he arrived in 
September. 

Despite the difficulties of reaching the port from which such expeditions 
must set out, Behring seems to have taken a keen interest in the subject. 
Shortly after his return to the capital he presented to the Empress Anne 
"Proposals for the Organization of the Okhotsk and Kamchatka Countries;" 
and urged her to undertake the discovery of routes to America and Japan, 
which might be used in commerce with those countries. The first of these 
recommendations appeared to the Empress most important; and to this task 
was postponed the consideration of exploring the eastern waters or the north- 
ern coast of Siberia, which was also amongthe schemes proposed by Behring. 
A certain oiEcial, who was in exile, was ordered to assume the reins of gov- 
ernment in the extreme northeast, and to be furnished the means necessary 
for the performance of his duties in connection with it. 

But almost before he had assumed office it was decided that there should 
be a second Kamchatka Expedition, and Behring was again appointed com- 
mander. This was due, probably, to no special activity on his part. The ex- 
pedition was undertaken at the recommendation of several high officials who 
had long taken an active interest in naval affairs and would naturally advocate 
maritime enterprises. Besides, it seemed that all Russia was alive with the 
spirit of progress; and everywhere, along the coast, were vessels seeking to 
set at rest disputed or doubtful points about the outline of the land. 

Bchring seems to have been rated the most eminent seaman in Russia, and 
liis foreign birth was scarcely a disadvantage; not only were there thousands 
of others who had come from other countries and who held high positions, 
but he had now been in the service of Russia for more than twenty-five years ; 
he had married a Russian wife, Anna Matveievna — who, by the way, was at 
least twenty-five years younger than her husband — and his two sons, Thomas 
and Unos, were Russian subjects by birth. The commander's experience had 



578 BKHRINU, THK RUSSIAN NAVIGATOR. 

been varied; there has been no detailed or ehronological account of his dif- 
ferent voyages preserved; but Peter the Great had chosen him to comniant! 
the iirst expedition "because lie had been to India and knew all the approaches 
to that country;" and it is evident, from the instructions drawn up for that 
journey, that this voyage to India had been made as the commander of a 
vessel. 

Next in command to Behring was Chirikof, who had been with him on the 
first expedition; a Russian officer, well-educated, thoughtful, courageous and 
kind-hearted; one of the true favorites of fortune, since he was gifted with 
that rare and enviable quality of making those who knew him best love him 
best. 

In strange contrast to Chirikof was the second officer, Spanberg. Like the 
commander, he was a Dane; but he was narrow-minded, ignorant, cruel, ava- 
ricious and selfish. His constant companion was a huge dog, which, his ene- 
mies said — and his enemies were as many as Chirikof's friends — was ready to 
tear a man to pieces should the master but give the word. It will be noticed 
that the relative rank of these two officers was reversed on this second expe- 
dition, Spanberg having stood next to the commander on the first, but after 
Chirikof on the second. 

Besides these there was Lieut. Walton, an Englishman: Midshipman Schel- 
ting, a Hollander by descent; and Lieut. Lasscniu.s, a Dane. A Frenchman 
who was a member of the Imperial Academy was instructed by that body to 
compile a map of Kamchatka; and the call for astronomers and mineralogists 
to join the expedition was answered by two Germans and a Frenchman. Thus 
did all the nations of Europe unite to furnish forth the Russian exjiedition. 
The Government appears to have been somewhat dissatisfied with this cos- 
mopolitan representation, and ordered twelve students from the Slavo-Latin 
School at Moscow to be trained by the Academy for the expedition. 

A few members of the Academy, burning with the desire that Russia should 
accomplish what other nations had achieved, and circumnavigate the globe, 
proposed that the expedition should sail from the Baltic, and, ci'ossing the 
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, reach the coast of Kamchatka from the cast. 
This proposal, however, was rejected; and the expedition, as before, was or- 
dered to proceed overland across Siberia. At Kamchatka or Okhotsk, as the 
judgment of Behring might decide, they were to build two packet-boats; and 
in these to jn-oceed, without separating, to the American coast. This they 
were to follow as far south as the forty-fifth parallel, or the coast of the pre- 
sent state of Oregon ; returning to the north, and crossing to Asia at Behring 
Strait, as the passage between the two continents had already been named. 
If the season proved too short, they were to go into winter quarters, and com- 
plete their task the next season. 

These were the instructions for the main body of tlie explorers, directly un- 



35EHRING, THK KIKSSIAN XAVIUATOK. 579 

der command of Behring and his lieutenant, Chirikof ; Spanberg was to pro- 
ceed from Okhotsk toward Japan, and make such explorations of that group 
as would be allowed, as well as of the Kurile^Islands. During their overland 
journey they were to seek some route to the Okhotsk Sea which would not 
take them past Yakutsk or across the Amoor. 

The expedition was fitted out with all the liberality which is shown in ex- 
1 ecuting the wishes of an al)solute monarch ; and even the wandering tribes of 
Siberia were informed that they must assist the members of it as far as lay in 
their power. We have no record of the number of persons who set out from 
St. Petersburg; the scientists alone, withtheirservants and escort, comprised 
a hundred and fifty-seven; nearly all the officers, and a number of the rank 
and file, took with them their wives and children ; Madame Behring and her 
two little boys being among those who accompanied the expedition. 

In February, 1733, the first detachment leftSt. Petersburg; andsix months 
later, the final division, that of the scientists, took their leave of the capital, 
for six years as they thought; but in some cases this length of time was more 
than doubled, and in others it stretched out into eternity. 

Reaching Tobolsk the whole force went into winter quarters; and the ship- 
builders were set to work building boats on the Ob, Irtish, and Yenisei. 
Their progress being aided by these boats, they reached Itkutsk sometime 
during the late summer or early autumn, and wintered a little beyond that 
place. Behring had traveled in advance of the main body, and had reached 
Yakutsk in October, 1734, while his assistants were still toiling through 
Central Siberia. 

The next summer, 1735, the main body arrived at this point, and prepara- 
tions Mere begun for the final stage of the journey. Boats were built during 
the winter, in which a detachment was to descend the Lena, and, following 
the northern coast, reach Okhotskby that means; while the transportation of 
the others must be accomplished by means of horses toiling painfully over a 
rugged mountain-chain. 

But the despotic power of the Czarina had not been able to secure the ful- 
filment of her commands without friction between the officers of the expedi- 
tion and those who were commanded to assist them. When Behring arrived 
at Yakutsk his supplies were scattered all along the road from the frontier to 
that place ; and it was in vain that he appealed to the oflicials to hasten their 
delivery. Working parties were sent forward, but many of the workmen act- 
ually died of starvation on the road. It was estimated that before any of the 
expedition reached Okhotsk, three hundred thousand rubles, or nearly a 
quarter of a million of dollars, had been paid out from the imperial treasury; 
besides the vast quantities of stores in kind furnished by the various districts. 

Not only were there constant quarrels between the officials of the expedit- 
ion and those of the country, but dissensions among the members of the ex- 



•')><ll UKIIUINC. IIIK Kl'SSIAN N.\VI(i\TOU. 

petition thomsolvcs arose, and hefaiiio exceedingly hittor. Complaints against 
Ik'liring, partieiiliirly, were constantly forwarded to St. Peterslmrg; and to 
those in charge of affairs there, M'ho could not realize the great dilficulties in 
the way, it seemed that he must have abused his authority, aiidpurpfisely de- 
layed in order, as his enenu'es charged, to i)ut more money in his own pocket. 
An ukase was issued, ordering that the accounts of tlie ex[)edi(iou should he 
reviewed; and it was reported that the expense thus far was so great that it 
was necessary to continue the work, or lose all that had been spent. Much 
time was consumetl in sending special messengers back and forth, so that Beh- 
ring, with the main body, did not reach Okhotsk until the beginning of 1739, 
six years after they had left St. Petersburg. 

Two officers were sent by the Imperial (iovernment to look into " the do- 
ings of Bchring." They seem to have cleared him of the charges against him. 
The}' arrived during thesummerof 1739; and their comingof course still fur- 
ther delayed the departure of the vessels, which Spanbcrg, who had arrived 
at Okhotsk some time before the commander, had been busily building. It 
was not until the month of August, 1740, that Behring and Chirikof were 
ready to sail. 

The announcement that an imperial courier was approaching delayed them 
for some time, and it was necessary to wait for his coming; and the ground- 
ing of one of their vessels, shortly after this, resulted not only in delay, but 
in loss of provisions and stores which could not be replaced. Finally, Sept. 
8, 1740, the expedition embarked; the /SV. Peter under the command of 
Behring, and the St. Paul under the command of Chirikof. They reached 
the harbor of Bolsheretsk a week later, and rounded Cape Lapatke in safe- 
ty, but the sloop and the galiot which carried the stores were unable to ac- 
complish this, and returned to Bolsheretsk for the winter; it being therefore 
necessary to transport the stores overland from Bolsheretsk to Avatcha, a 
work attended with loss and difficulty. 

To the few buildings existing at Avatcha, Bchring proceeded to add a 
church; and the place was named Petropaulovski. Here the vessels were 
beached for the winter; and, securing the services of the natives to transport 
the supplies overland, Behring distributed his men in such a way as to make 
it possible for them to live mainly upon game and fish. 

May 4, 1741, he called together his officers for consultation as to the route 
which should be followed; for recent communications from St. I'etersburg 
had left that in doubt. A renowned astronomer had made a map of thi.- 
portion of the world which had been presented to the Imperial Academy, 
and received the approbation of that learned body; which, however, knew 
no more about the subject than Columbus knew of the coast of Asia. By 
them it had been presented to the Senate, and had been apfirovcd by the 
members of that body, who were as well-informed as the Imperial Academi- 



BEHRING, THE RUSSIAN NAVIGATOK. 



58i 



cians. It had then been sent to Behring as a reliable guide for his voyage. 
According to this map there was no land laid down toward the east of Kam- 
chatka; but toward the southeast, between the forty-sixth and forty-seventh 
parallels, was laid down a land marked " Terres vues par Dom Jean de Ga- 
ma/' History has not preserved any record of the voyage of this individual, 
although his discoveries were thus set down on a map which ignored the land 
known to exist at a short distance from the eastern extremity of Siberia. 




Petropai lovski. 



It was decided, however, to follow the chart, ratiierthan their own knowl- 
edge and that of the Siberians ; and to sail southeast by east until the lati- 
tude of forty-six degrees was reached; then, if they found no land, to steer 
northeast by east. If land were discovered in the first instance, they were to 
take its northern coast as a guide to the northeast or east; and whenever laud 
was found, its coast was to be followed as far north as the sixty-fifth paral- 
lel. Why they should not attempt to follow it two degrees and a half 
further north, when it would be such a short distance across to their own 
continent does not appear. 

Orders were given the different officers to direct their actions under all 
imaginable circumstances, and the two vessels, with their hundred and fifty 



582 BEHRIXO, THE RUSSIAN NAVIGATOR. 

men, and provisions for five and a half months, sailed from Avatcha Bay, 
after soli'nin prayer, June 4, 1741. 

On the afternoon of the 12th they had reached the forty-sixth parallel, and 
found that there was no such land as was laid down in the chart. The 
course was changed in accordance with the determination reached in council. 
June HHh the wind which had been driving them forward increased, so that 
sails had to be taken in during the night; and the ne.xt morning, by some 
mistake, the two vessels were separated and did not again sight each other. 

They were between the forty-ninth and fiftieth parallel when this occurred. 
Chirikof 's vessel, after drifting for some time in the expectation of meeting 
with the commander, was steered toward the east and reached land July 1.5, 
at a point somewhere about the middle part of the coast of British Colum- 
bia. Sending a boat ashore to find a good place to anchor, Chirikof awaited 
the return of his sailors. Instead, a number of the natives surrounded his 
ship; and, to his horror and distress, he learned that his men had all been 
murdered. In addition to the loss of so many men, he had lost the only boat 
that he had; so that, as the water on board gave out, he was unable to ob- 
tain any new supplies. 

He touched at the coast at various points, but did not land; endeavoring 
to supply the lack of fresh water from shore by distilling sea-water and 
catching rain-water. Finally he touched at the most western of the Aleutian 
islands, and thence continued his voyage for Kamchatka. 

They had suffered nmch from the lack of water and food, and scurvy set 
in. When they reached port, near the Bay of Avatcha, twenty-one of the 
seventy-three who had left that harbor five months before had perished. 
Having no boats, thej' were obliged to discharge a cannon to attract the at- 
tention of those on shore, and receive aid in landing. 

Like Chirikof, Behring allowed his ship to drift for some time, after los- 
ing sight of his companion, in hopes of regaining company. On the morn- 
ing of June 28 it was decided by a council of the officers to return to latitude 
46; this point being reached, the sight of some 1)irds tempted them farther 
on ; but they found no land. Thus again taught that the chart was not to be 
depended upon, the}' changed their course as before, and steered north- 
northeast. After frequent changes of course, Avhich were hardly to be ex- 
pected from a veteran commander like Behring, about noon of the Kith of 
July the lookout reported a high chain of mountains and a towering peak, all 
capped with snow; and Behring gave to the peak the name which it .still 
bears, Mount St. Elias. 

We have read of the enthusiasm, sometimes of the wonder, with which 
other discoverers hailed the first sight of land; l)ut Behring showed none of 
it. His officers, indeed, gathered round him, excitedly, and offered their 
congratulations upon the success with which the expedition under his leader- 



BEHRING, THE RUSSIAN NAVIGATOR. 583 

ship had met. He glanced at the rugged shore, shrugged his shoulders, and 
replied in their rough guttural language: — 

"A great discovery, no doubt, and the accomplishment of all our desires; 
but who knows where we are, Avhen we shall see Russia, and what we shall 
have to eat in the meantime?" 

It was the 20th of July before they found a landing-place and sent boats 
ashore to reconnoiter and secure a new supply of water. Early the next 
morning Behring came on deck and ordered his men to weigh anchor. His 
ofScers looked at him in astonishment, for the men had not yet finished fill- 
ing the water-casks; some of them ventured to remonstrate. But that deci- 
sion which, as we have noted, was lacking when he should have fixed upon a 
course, was not lacking now; he had been ordered to find land, and having 
found it he was goiugback to Russia, whether the water-casks were filled or 
not. A German scientist who had spent six hours ashore the previous day, 
was now perched upon a steep rock, "taking in as muchas possible of Amer- 
ica." Behring crustily oi'dered him aboard if he did not wish to be left; and 
he returned with his collection of plants which he had gathered to analyze. 

Heavy fogs, thick mists, conti'ary winds, and continual rains attended their 
homeward passage. Finally, about the middle of August, no other landing 
having been made, it was decided that as they had intended to return to Kam- 
chatka by the end of September, it was impracticable to attempt any further 
exploration of the American coast; and that they should now steer westwai'd 
to the point whence they started. 

This was more easily said than done; the vessel drifted some distance to 
the southeast of the point where land was first seen and became so involved 
among the islands fringing the coast that it was hardly safe to navigate here 
except in favorable weather. They reached a point as far south as the north- 
ern boundary of the United States before they were able to keep to the course 
which they had marked out and sail for Kamchatka. Several landings had 
been made in the meantime by officers and scientists; but we have no record 
that Behring himself ever stepped foot on the shore of America. 

As on the companion vessel, scurvy had set in; and there were now hardly 
enough well men to manage the ship. "The most eloquent pen would fail to 
describe the misery of our condition," says that same botanist who had been 
in danger of being left at the time of the first landing. Some of the ofiicers 
favored the plan of seeking a harbor on the American coast; others wished 
to sail straight for Kamchatka; Behring himself seems to have relapsed into 
indecision, and contented himself with making many vows of gifts to 
churches, distributing his promises with great impartiality between the Ger- 
man Lutheran churches of his youth and the Greek Catholic churches of his 
later years. 

They kept a northerly course until October 22, when the wind changed so 



584 



IJKIIKINC;, TIIK Kl'SSlAN NAVKiATOH. 



that tlicj- woiv able to sail easterly toward their destination, Thcj' could 
make but little lu-adway, however, for the sails and ropes were so rotten that 
it was not safe to carry niueh sail, even had the crew been able to set them. 
The commander was confined to his cabin by sickness; the officers, hardly 




TnK Sick Cakkiki 



able to totter about, yet quarreled among themselves; the steersman was 
obliged to be led to his post by another man, not much stronger; and when 
he could sit and steer no longer, his place was taken by his relief, almost 
equally worn out before his work began. At last, on Nov. 4, they sighted 
land. The l)otanist Steller is again (luoted: — 



BEIll!l.\(i, 'llIK HISSIAN' NA\ Hi ATOK. 5Hr) 

'•It would he iuipossiblf lo dt'scrilx^ tlio joy crciitcd by tbe sigbt of land. 
The dying crawled upon deck to see with their own eyes what they would not 
believe; even the feeble commander was carried out of his cabin. To the 
astonishment of all, a small keg of braudy was taken from some hiding-place 
and dealt out to celebrate the supposed approach to the coast of Kamchatka." 

But their joy was premature. This, however, they did not learn till later. 
The morning after land was seen, it was discovered that all the shrouds on 
the starboard side had been broken by contraction owing to frost. Behring 
gave orders from his sick-bed that a council of officers should be called. Be- 
fore them was laid the situation which they knew^ only too well: men dying 
of the scurvy, lack of fresh water, suffering from exposure to the cold rain, 
which froze as it fell upon any body whatever, animate or inanimate. It was 
decided to seek relief at the nearest point of laud, whether island or conti- 
nent. They at once set about seeking a safe harbor for anchorage; and find- 
ing what they considered one, cast anchor about five o'clock that evening. 
In less than an hour the cable broke, as the sea rose ; other cables were lost; 
and just as they were about to heave the last one on board, a great swell of 
the sea lifted the vessel over a ledge of rock, and landed her in a smooth 
basin, about four fathoms deep. 

Thus the decision had been made for them ; it was impossible to get the 
vessel over that ledge again, even if her hull had not been seriously damaged 
in the first instance. Fortunately it was bright moonlight, so that they were 
able to work better than if the night had been dark. All who were able to 
work busied themselves at once, making preparations to land the sick. Niches 
were dug in the saudy banks of a small stream, and covered with sails; this 
was all the shelter that they had; for, although there was a small quantity of 
driftwood upon the shore, there was no timber of any account. 

Many of the sick died as they reached the shore; others expired while 
being moved. Behring was carried ashore in a hand-barrow, well secured 
against the air, on the 9th; and shortly afterward the ship was torn from its 
single cable and dashed upon the shore. 

It w^as in vain that Steller, the botanist, searched for anti-scorbutic herbs 
under the snow; nor did they find any game or wild-fowl. The only land-ani- 
mals that they saw were Arctic foxes, so bold that the miserable survivors 
could not keep them off the unburied corpses of their comrades. 

Fortunately they secured some sea-otters, and even the flesh of a whale 
cast upon the beach was not disdained. This afforded light, also, for the 
long nights of the winter that was now upon them. Officers and men fared 
alike, for in this situation there was no meaning in class distinctions. Lieut. 
Waxel, who had been next to Behring in command, was generally recognized 
as their chief, for the commander was beyond duty; and Steller was his 
constant adviser. 



586 HKHKINU, TIIK KUSSIAN NAVIGATOR. 

At last Waxcl fell .sick; and it was apparent to all that Behring was marked 
to die. The excursions iu .search of food grew shorter as the strength anil 
hopes of the men grew less; and despair settled upon them all. 

As the days went on, Behring grew more and more suspicious and tiiiiid of 
1 liose al)out him ; at la.st hardly enduring the presence of Steller, who was his 
most intimate friend. Yet there was no word of complaint, no repining at 
these hard conditions, from the worn-out old sailor; but lying, helpless yet 
uncomplaining, day after day, in that rude hut through whose seams the 
sand banked against it continually trickled down upon him, he watched the 
shores of this world fade slowly from sight, and, December 8, 1741, had com- 
pleted the last voyage, and anchored safe in port. 

Not for more than a month after the date of Behring's death was the effect 
of the stay upon land visible upon the shipwrecked sailors; then, their health 
began slowly to improve. It was time that it did so; for up to January 8, 
1742, thirty-one of the seventy-seven had died. As they gained strength, 
three different parties were sent out, to explore respectively to the north, 
south, and west. Four weeks elapsed before these reported; and then they 
learned only that they were on an island. Traces of inhabitants there were 
none. 

It was clearly impossible to remain here. Two plans suggested themselves: 
either to take the open boats and seek the main land in them as soon as the 
season should be far enough advanced, or to break up their disabled ships, 
and from the fragments construct a smaller vessel, safer than the small boats, 
and more manageable than the large craft, even were it more hopelessly 
injured. 

"A singular question here presented itself to these navigators, accustomed 
as they were to the iron discipline of the imperial service: Would they not 
be punished for taking to pieces a government vessel? After some discussion 
it dawned on their dim visions that perhaps after all the punishment of their 
dread ruler might be no worse than death upon that island. Hence it was 
.solemnly resolved to begin at once; the wreck was dismantled, and in May 
the keel was laid for the new ve.s.sel." — Bancroft. 

The vessel, thirty-six feet long at the keel and forty-one on deck, with 
a breadth of beam of twelve feet and a depth of only five and one-half, 
constructed without a particle of iron, and provisioned with the flesh of sea- 
animals, was launched August 10. The old name of St. Peler was retained. 

August 1(), after protracted devotions, and solemnly bcstowingthe name of 
their dead commander on the island where they had now been for more than 
nine months, the miserable survivors sailed away toward the bleak shores 
whence they had fir.st come. On the third day out, it was discovered that their 
crazy bark was leaking; and there were two feet of w.ater in the hold before 
an hour had passed. Some lead and ammunition were thrown overboard and 



BEHRmG, THE RUSSIAN NAVIGATOR. 587 

the leak finally stopped. A week later, August 25, they sighted land; and 
the next day they anchored in the bay of Avatcha, where they had long since 
been given up for lost. 

Thus ended the great Russian expedition to the shores of America. It 
cannot be denied that Chirikof seems to have been a better navigator than 
Behring; and that ho saw the coast of North America at least thirty-six hours 
before it was reached by his commander. But it must be remembered that 
the history of the expedition has been written by Russians, who regarded 
Behring with much jealousy and envy, as a Dane, while Chirikof was one of 
their own countrymen. Then, too, Behring may have felt, long before his 
comrades saw, the hand of death heavy upon him; and this may be the ex- 
planation of his eagerness to return to Russia as soon as he had set eyes on 
the American coast. These arguments, of course, do not affect the question 
of the first discovery; that honor belongs to Chirikof; but Magellan is reck- 
oned to have discovered the Pacific Ocean from the south, though it was first 
descried by one of his sailors; and Behring, the leader of this great Russian 
expedition, is rated as the discoverer of Russian America, although his 
subordinate saw it before him. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 
CAPTAIN JAMES COOK, THE EXPLORER OF THE SOUTH SEA. 

Birth and Karly Life — Contending with Difficulties — Rises in the World — Enlists in the 
Navy — Distinguishes Himself as a Maritime Surveyor — Apiiointed Marine Surveyor of Labra- 
dor and Newfoundland — Transit of Venus in 1769 — Cook's Exjjedition — Previous ICxpeditions 
111 the South Pacific — Byron — "Foul Weather Jack " — Wallis — Tahiti — Carteret — B<jugaiu- 
ville — Cook Sets Sail — Doubling Cape Horn — Observing the Transit — The Society Islands — 
New Zealand — Unfriendly Natives — Exploring Coast— Tsismania — Australia — An Anxious 
Night and Day — Land Reached — Camping on Shore — Coast of Australia — Batavia — Doubling 
the Cape — Home Again — Another Expedition Planned — To Discover the Southern Continent 
— Cook's Instructions — In Antarctic Waters — Separaticm of Vessels — To New Guinea — Re- 
uiiioji of Ships — Friendly Natives — Rough Treatment of Whites — Cook's Islands — To the Far 
South — The Friendly Islands — An Offended Native — The New Hebrides — New Caledonia 
Explored — A Fortunate Discovery — ^Reaches Cape of Good Hope — Report or Furneaux — 
A New Zealand Massacre — Return to England — A New Expedition Planned — In Austra- 
lasia — Sandwich Islands Discovered — Reaches American Coast — To the Sandwich Islands 
again — Strange Ceremonies— Explanation — A Change — A Tumult — A Serious Dispute — 
A Skirmish — ^Cook Seeks a Hostage — A Conflict^ — Cook Killed — Remains of Cook Re- 
covered and Buried — Ships Northward — Pass Behring Strait — Return by Cajie of Good 
Hope to England — News of Cook's Death — How Received — Honors to His Memory — 
His Summary of His Own Life. 

fT is a boast, which has passed into almost a jest, that any boy who is a 
native of the United States has a hope of becoming President ; and 
more than one of our Chief Magistrates have sprung from so lowly a 
source as to prove this no vain commendation. But when we find a boy 
of another country, risen from the lowest station to a position of honor 
among his fellow-men, our wonder is greater; and we feel that such a man 
is entitled to even more respect than if he had lived in a country where 
such rises in fortune are more common. 

Such a man was James Cook, whose name has become renowned through- 
out the world; for he was the son of an English agricultural laborer. His 
father, however, seems to have been a man of no common ability in his 
sphere, for we find him advanced to the post of farm-bailill"; being still a 
resident of Yorkshire, near the village of Marton, in the vicinity of which 
the future navigator was born October 28, 1728. 

He had had but small opportunities for learning; for, from the time that 
he was eight years old, he had been kept busy about the farm ; and an ap- 
prentice to any trade, a hundred years ago, had but little time to pursue any 
studies but the exercise of his craft. His bright face and willing industry 
had, however, early attracted the notice of the farmer who employed the 
boy's father; aild this friend had him taught to read. How much more he 

(588) 



CAPTAIN JAMES COOK, THE EXPLOKEK OF THE SOUTH SEA. o89 

had learned before becoming a sailor there is no record; but he soon ac- 
quired such knowledge of the heavenly bodies as was possessed by his asso- 
ciates on board the vessel, and devoted a large portion of his scanty earnings 
to the purchase of such books as would oiuible him to continue the study of 
astronomy and navigation. 




Captain James Cook. 

A boy determined to excel, speedily rises in the world, and young Cook be- 
came first the mate, and then the master of the vessel. At the age of twen- 
ty-seven the son of the poor farm-laborer was a skilled sailor, possessing a 
remarkable knowledge of astronomy and no small skill in practical hydro- 
graphic drawing. 

The Seven Years' War broke out in 17.i."). Shortly after the war had be- 



O90 CAI'TAIV T AMKS COOK, THE EXPLORER OF THE SOITH SEA. 

gun. Cook's vessel came to anchor in the Thames. At first, he hid liimself 
from the press-gang, by means of which the British nuvj' was largely recruit- 
ed then ; but considering the matter, hedetermin<!d to volunteer; and offered 
liimself on board the Eaijlf, a vessel of sixty guns, of which Sir Hugh Palli- 
scr was the commander. 

lie met with such favor from his commander that he was, by that otficer's 
advice, appointed to the counuand of a sloop, the (rrampns. From this he 
was transferred to the Garlaiid, and then to the Mercury, in the last of 
which he served in the St. Lawrence, and was present at the siege of (Juc- 
b(>c. 

It was in this campaign that he first had an opportunity of distinguishing 
himself. Ordered to sound the St. Lawrence between Orleans Island and 
the northern shore of the river, ho executed his task with such faithfulness, 
and drew up a chart of the channel with such skill, that he was detailed to 
examine the channels of this river below Quebec. lie did so; and his chart 
of the St. Lawrence from Quebec to the sea was accepted by the English 
Admiralty and published by them as the best authority on this river. 

His ability as a marine surveyor was very generally recognized; and after 
the recapture of Newfoundland — at which he was present — he was employed 
in surveying its coasts. The year after peace was concluded, he w^as ap- 
pointed Marine Surveyor of Newfoundland and Lai)rador. 

He received this appointmentinl7()4, andheld the position for three years; 
being recognized by the British Government as an excellent authority in hy- 
drographical questions, and as having corrected many errors in the map of 
America. During this period he published in the Phihinophicnl TransacdnnK 
an account of a solar eclipse which he had observed off Cape Ray; and this 
added much to his reputation as an asti-onomical observer. 

Astronomers had calculated that in 17()9 the planet Venus would nuike a 
transit across the face of the sun. It was desirable that this should be care- 
fully observed b}' some competent person, but the best place, scientists deci- 
ded, would be some point in the Pacific Ocean. The English Government 
resolved to send out an expedition for this purpose, and fitted out a vessel 
with eighteen months' provisions for her crew of eighty-four men, and the 
necessary arms and ammunition for defense should such be needed. 

Dalrymple, a famousastronomer, was chosen for the command; but he had 
so high an idea of his own worth, and demanded so persistently an appoint- 
ment as ship's captain, that the .secretary of the Admiralty, finding it inad- 
visable to concede all that he demanded, fixed upon this one point as the thing 
that could not be granted. Dalrymple refused to accejit any lower rank, and 
was informed that the Government would grant no higher; so negotiations 
with him Avere broken off. 

Sir Hugh Palliscr, who stood high with the naval authorities, proposed 



(■APTAIN JAMES COOK, THE EXPLORER OF THE SOl^TH SEA. 



5yi 



Cook for tlu^ position. The commaud of the Endeavour was accordingly given 
to him, with a commission as lieutenant in the navy. Charles Green, assist- 
ant in the Greenwich observatory, Doctor Solander, a learned Swede who was 
a professor of botany. Sir Joseph Banks, a wealthy amateur astronomer and 
botanist, and two other persons, one a landscape and portrait painter, the 
other a scientific draughtsman, with a secretary and four servants, made up 
the company of the master's cabin in the vessel which sailed from Plymouth 
August 26, 1708. 




The Council Discussing What jjireciion to bAiL. 
Cook was commissioned for purposes of discovery and exploration as well 
as for the observation of a single astronomical occurrence. The interest in 



5!t'2 (AnAIN .IVMKS (OOK, 'rilK KXl'l.OKKK OT IIIK ^Ul'lll M'.A. 

discovery, wliicli had laiiguislied for some time, liad revivod; this was piiflicii- 
hirly the case iu Enghind, where the Civil War of the seventeenth century 
and the foreign wars and civil disturbances of theearly partof theeighteentii 
had passed away, leaving the country on the high road to a i)osifion among 
tlie nations of Europe Mliicii she had nevei- lield since the days of Henry V. 
and Edward III. 

Before entering upon an account of the discoveries maae by Cook, it will 
be well for us to review, very briefly, the work of his jjredecessors in this part 
of the world; contining ourselves to those who had sailed from England for 
the exploration of the South Pacific. 

The beginning of what may be called the second era of discovery and ex- 
ploration — the first beginning with the time of Columbus — may be placed at 
about the middle of the eighteenth ccntui-y. It was in 17(!4that Commodore 
Byron was comnn'ssioned to explore the Falkland Islands more thoroughly, 
and also to ascertain if they were habita1)le lands of any extent between the 
Straits of Magellan and the Cape of Good Hope. Many navigators had 
touched at Australia, New Zealand, and other islairli of the great archipelago; 
but none of these lands bad been thoroughly explored; and it was supposed 
that they were parts of a continent of great extent surrounding the South 
Pole. 

Byron had, as a boy of seventeen, enlisted in the expedition commanded by 
Lord Anson, about 1740; but the vessel in which he sailed had been wrecked 
in passing through the Straits of Magellan, and he had been taken prisoner 
by the Spaniards. Detained in Chili for more than three years, ho reached 
home at last, to find the country involved in a war with France. He distin- 
guished himself in various encounters during the progress of this war; but was 
so unfortunate as a sailor that his men came tf) nick-name him " Foul-weather 
Jack." 

This name, however, could not be expected toinfluence the grave Lords of 
the Admiralty, who appointed him to tlie command of thcexpeditionof ITtU. 
Two vessels, one of twenty-four and one of sixteen guns were assigned to him ; 
and after one false start, they Mcighed anchor July 3. The voyage was with- 
out incident until they sighted the coast of South America. They had stop- 
ped at the Madeira and the Cape Verde Islands for water, but the tropical 
heat and constant rains had produced much sickness among the sailors, so 
that they were obliged to put in at Rio Janeiro for fresh water and food. 

Having revictualed here, Byron stood out to sea, and the question now 
arose, whether the captain should prosecute his search for lands in the west, 
or whether on the contrary, he should sail northward and reach the East In- 
dies during the favorable season? 

The council of war, which was called, to the considcrationof this question, 
chose the latter alternative, after an animated discussion. 



C.VrTAlN .lA.MES COOK, TJIK KXl'LORKK Ol' 'IIIK SOI M 



Mt;; 



Sailing southward he entered the Straits of Magelhm ; as soon as the vessels 
neared the shore, the sailors distinguished a crowd of men on horseback, who 
set up a white tent, and signed to them to land. Curious to see these Pata- 
gonians, about whom preceding navigators had so disagreed, Byron landed 
with a strong detachment of armed soldiers. 




Pataconians on IIokseuack. 

He found nearly 500 men, most of them on horseback, of gigantic stature, 
and looking like monsters in human shape. The women rode on horseback 
like the men without stirrups, and all galloped on the shore, although it was 
covered with immense stones and very slippery. 
3« 



594 CAPTAIN .lAMKS COOK, TllK KMM.t IHKK Ol" TlIK St)lTlI SKA. 

With them were numbers of dogs and very .small hor.se.s; excessive!}' iiiily, 
but not the less extremely swift. 

The interview was friendly, and, after Byron had distributed gifts to the 
natives, the crew returned to the ship and sailed northeastward again, and 
coasted the Falkland Islands, where a Fri-nch colony had already been estab- 
lished, lleturning to the Straits he passed through them, and, touching at one 
of the Juan Fernandez group, proceeded in searchof Easter Island, which had 
been discovered and named by John Davis, the exploier of the American 
Arctic waters. lie failed to find this island, but came upon a group whose 
cocoa-nut palms and other trees gave promise of cure for his men, among whom 
the scurvy was running riot. The milk of the cocoa-nut is one of the best 
remedies known for this dreadful disease, and the sailors looked longingly' 
toward the trees which were to afford them relief. A boat was sent to find 
anchorage for the ships; but the sailors sent on this errand returned, saying 
that they had failed to tind bottom at a cal)le's length from shore. Byron was 
therefore comi)elled to sail away from this group of islands, which he named, 
in commemoration of their failure to secure the fruits, Disappointment Is- 
lands. 

Fortunately for the sufferers, they reached the Low Islands the next day, 
and gathered fruit enough to serve their purpose. After this they touched at 
or passed various islands, recognizing the Ladrones July 28, 1765. Here they 
landed, tents being prepared for the sick, and plentiful fruits, limes, oranges, 
cocoa-nuts, bread-fruits and guavas, gathered for their use. These afforded 
a cure for the scurvy; but the hot, wet weather had caused so much malaria 
to rise from the dense growth of vegetation that the sailors, already weak- 
ened by long illness, were attacked by another form of disease, and two of 
them died. We are told that the fowls and wild pigs, which were abundant 
and easily captured, had to be eaten immediately after being killed, as de- 
comi)osition began within an hour; and the fish caught here were so unwhole- 
some that all who ate of them, no matter how sparingly, became very ill. 
Notwithstanding all these difficulties, however, they remained here for nine 
weeks. 

Continuing their course, they passed to the northward of the Philippine 
Islands, touching at Grafton Island. At Timor they endeavored lo jjrocurc 
supplies, but it was only with the utmost difficulty that they could persuade 
the Malay natives to trade with them. The inhabitants demanded rupees in 
'exchange for theirgoods, and with rupees the Englishmen were not provided. 
Reaching Sumatra, he coasted along this island until he reached Batavia, 
the chief settlement and center of the Dutch trade, laid out with the prim 
regularity, the canals and trees and large open thoroughfares, which distin- 
guished the cities of Holland. A hundred ships rode in its harbor, and its 
streets were thronged by Portuguese, Dutch, English, Chinese, Persians, Ma- 



CAPTAIN JAMES COOK, THE EXPLORER OF THE SOUTH SEA. .MIO 

lays and Arabs, who chattered and traded with each other. Gayeties of every 
kind showed that business was not the sole thought of the inhabitants, and 
the sailors, tired with the long cruise and the illness which had affected every 
one of them, were enchanted with the beautiful little city. 



KlN(, 1)1 I'lMOK 

But it was less fair than it had seemed; jjoison lay beneath the beauty. 
Endemic fevers abound there, and Byron, as soon as he learned this, hurried 
to get his provisions on board, and set sail. 

But, although they had remained but twelve days, they had remained too 
long, A terrible fever broke out among the crew, disabling half their uuni- 



o96 CArTAlN .lAMKS CDOK, TlIK KX IM.ORI'.R or TlIK SOITII SKA. 

l)er, jiud cMiiliiij; in llu; ileatli of threi-. Aft«'r forty-eight days they jsighted 
tho toast of Afiita; and, thret; days later, anrliored in Talde Bay, whence it 
was a voyage over well-known waters. The sole imideut of their homeward 
vo\'age was off the island of St. Helena, where the vessel received such a 
shock it was thought at first that she had struck upon a sunken rock. The 
fears of the sailors were dissipated, however, as they saw the sea tinged with 
blood for a large radius; the vessel had struck a whale. 

It was at first supposed that the ship was not injured; but a few days later 
it was found that she was so seriously disabled that it was iniprudeut, if not 
iin[)ossih!c, for her to continue her voyage in her present condition. They 
.ucoidingly allowed themselves to be carried across the Atlantic by the cur- 
rent which hei'e sets toward the northwest, and the injured vessel was re- 
paiix'd at the .\ntilles. 

Byron's ship reai^iietl England aftei-an absence of twenty-three months. after 
a voyage which was generally considered the most fortunate of all the circum- 
navigations attempted by the English. But little had been accomplished for 
the cause of science; but the fact that this was so was due, not to any omission 
or carelessness on the part of those engaging in it, but to the neglect of 
the officials to give proper instructions, and to include among those who went 
scientists who were capable of original investigations in their particular sub- 
jects. 

Six weeks after the arrival of Byron's vessel Captain Samuel AA'allis was 
appointed to the command of a second exploring expedition. Not until 
April, ITtifi, however, did they sail. The three ships were not good sailers, 
and the captain of one felt assured that he should not be able, with the 
equipment given him, to go farther than the Falkland Islands. They reached 
the Straits of IMagellan in safety and had some intercourse with the Patago- 
nians. Previous navigators had asserted that these were a race of giants; 
and each one had seemed to vie with the others in stories of the stature, the 
strength, and the wonderful appetite of these far southern savages. AVallis, 
however, invited a number of them onboard his vessel, and measured them; 
the tallest was six feet six, he found; but the average height was no more 
than live feet six or seven. These visitors were so well entertained with the 
strange things that they saw on board the ship, that it was only with great 
difficulty that they could he persuaded to land again. 

They also held some communication with the natives of Terra del Fuego. 
.V single incident serves to show how low in the scale of civilization are these 
islanders. Wallis relates that as he and his companions landed, the natives 
were devouring large pieces of whale, already putrificd, the odor of which 
impregnated the air for some distance. One of them tore the carrion in 
pieces with his teeth, and handed the bits to his companions, who devoured 
them with the voracity of wild beasts. One of his men, who was lishing 



CAPTAIN .lA.MKS fOOK, THE EXPLORKK OF THE SOUTH SEA. 5!)7 

with ca lino, caught :i fish about as big as a herring, and gave it to a native who 
was eagerly watching him. The Fuegan killed it by a bite near the gills; and 
beginning at the head, devoured it at once, bones, fins, scales, entrails and 
flesh, finishing only when he reached the end of the tail. 




Patagonian Savages Feasting on Carrion. 

Making their way through the straits, they passed several islands, discov- 
ering Tahiti about the middle of June. Before they could make any eifort 
to land they were surrounded by the boats of the natives, who brought ba- 
nanas and other fruits. These savages, however, were born thieves, and lost 
no opportunity to steal; it is gravely recorded that only one ofiicer lost his 
hat in consequence of this dishonesty. 

An effort to land met with decided opposition on the part of the natives; 
and the light pirogues thronged about the vessels of the strangers, filled with 
stones and other missiles. Thei-e was an attack made upon the fleet; but a 
well-directed shot cut in two the double pirogue of the chief, and the at- 
tacking party fled in all directions. The Englishmen then landed, and Wal- 
lis took possession of this land in the name of the King of England, calling 



598 CAPTAIN .lAMKS COOK, THK KXPLORKR OK TIIK flOlTII SEA. 

it George tlio Third in honor of that sovereign. Hut the ishind has retained 
its native name of Taiiiti or Otaheite. 

But, while a party of the sailors wore in search of fresh water, Wallis saw 
from the ship that the natives appeared to he planning another attack. He 
decided, therefore, to take vigorous steps to prevent further hostilities, and 
ordered his carpenters to cut to pieces some lifty or sixty pirogues which 
were drawn up on the beach. This was done, the workmen being fully pro- 
tected by the guns of tbe ships; and the natives, seeing their vessels of war 
thus destroyed, resolved that it was best to make friends with the strangers. 

The inhabitants of Tahiti had much to learn. On one occasion the sur- 
geon, who had gone with Wallis to pay a visit to the Queen, found himself 
perspiring very freely about the head; and, to secure a little more comfort, 
I'emovcd his wig. The natives stared in astonishment too great for words ; 
they could hardly have been more surprised if he had taken off his head. 

At another time, when the Queen dined on board ship, one of her attend- 
ants, having seen the whites pour water from the boiler into the tea-pot. 
thought to show his familiarity with the customs of the strangers. He turn- 
ed the faucet and scalded his hand; for as the Tahitians had none but wooden 
dishes, they had no means of heating liquids, and did not know that there was 
such a thing as hot water. 

The conflicts with which their intercourse had begun had been so completely 
forgotten by the time that the Englishmen were ready to sail away, that the 
natives bade them farewell, says Wallis, "with so much sorrow, and in so 
touching a manner, that I felt heavy-hearted, and my eyes tilled with tears." 

Seeds of different kinds of vegetables were sown before they left, cherry, 
peach, and plum stones planted, as well as pips of lemons, oranges, and limes. 
A cat, some fowls and geese and other domestic animals were presented to 
the Queen; but these gifts were not valued half so highly, or regarded with 
such admiring wonder by herself and her subjects, as an earthenware sauce- 
pan. One of her subjects, who seemed to be more progressive than the others, 
was presented with a suit of clothes, and, at his own request, with a fork; 
but, while he always held the implement in his hand while eating, he still 
grasped his food in his fingers, so that there was danger that the fork would 
scratch his ear. 

Leaving this island July 27, Wallis coasted several in the vicinity, but did not 
land, as the natives seemed determined to pi-event it. His vessels were in 
need of repairs, and he calculated that if he should return to Europe by way of 
the Straits of ^lagellan, he would be involved in those tortuous passages 
about the time of the equinoctial storms; he accordingly sailed for Batavia, 
where he knew that ho could secure the necessary assistance. His own vessel 
was nearly destroyed in a storm which they encountered before reaching that 
port; but, with this exception, the voyage was without incident of interest 



CAPTAIN JAMES COOK, THE EXPLOKKK OF TllK SOUTH SKA. 5911 

sufficient to be here noted; and the}' arrived in England Ma}' 20. 17(;8, after 
an absence of nearly twenty-five months. 

Neai'ly a year before this ending of the voyage, however, Wallis had lost 
sight of one of his vessels, that of which the master had expressed such 
doubts before leaving England. This was the /Sivalloic, commanded by 
Captain Carteret. No rendezvous having been arranged, the ships were not 
again united during the voyage. Cai'teret steered for the north, along the 
coast of Chili; determined to take in water at Juan Fernandez; but a series 
of storms and squalls prevented him from doing more than take in a few 
casks of water, when he was driven off the coast of these islands. 

He spent some time in a search for Davis' Land, as Easter Island was then 
called; it being supposed that this small isolated piece of land was a head- 
land of a great continent; but missing it by reason of the thick fog, decided 
that Davis' Land had no existence. The weather was such, indeed, that he 
would have been unable to descry land at a very shoi't distance; and we find 
him almost despairing of finding land. 

July 2, however, he- discovered an island, afterward famous in the history 
of naval adventure; which he named, from its discoverer, one of his officers, 
Pitcairn's Island. Several others of this group, the Dangerous Islands, were 
visited; but sickness increased daily, provisions could not be obtained here, 
and the adverse winds and the damaged condition of the ship made her prog- 
ress very slow. 

It was Carteret's intention, if he could find a continent where sufficient 
provisions could be procured, to repair his ship while remaining near its 
coasts. The refitting and supplying of the vessel would probably take some 
weeks, perhaps some months. It was then drawing toward the end of win- 
ter; audit was his purpose, with the approach of spring, to gain a distant 
southern latitude, proceed westward to the Cape of Good Hope, and to re- 
turn after touching at the Falkland Islands, and thence to proceed quickly 
to Europe. 

But the continent was not found, although Carteret thought, as he passed 
the Solomon Islands, that he was close upon its shores, although the fog 
prevented him from seeing land. His provisions were now almost gone, the 
small quantity which remained being in such a condition as to be really unfit 
for food; the rigging and the sails were almost destroyed by the storms 
through which they had passed; half the crew were on the sick list; while, to 
add to the gloominess of the outlook, the shifj sprung a leak just below the 
water-line. In mid-ocean, it was impossible to repair it; but by great good 
fortune they saw land the next day, and anchored off Nitendit Island. 

Attempting to land here, they were vigorously opposed by the natives, who 
saluted them with a shower of arrows as their boat drew near the beach. 
The master of the boat and half his crew were dangerously wounded, and 



liOO 



CAPTAIN .l\MKS fOOK, TKK KXri,()I!KI{ OK IIIK SOI Til SKA. 



every iitlempt In procuro watiT ami fruit, alUiougli the .sailors were protoef- 
ed by the guns of tlio ship us far as possible, was resisted by the natives vith 
the same \ i'_'(ir. 




. in. I.A.M.IN., I'l.si-I It.L,. 

The master died of lii.s wounds a few days afterward, and three of the 
wounded men shared the same fate. At this same time, Carteret and his chief 
officer, Lieut, (iower, were confined to their lieds by sickness; so that there 
was no one capable of navigating the ship who was well enough to perform 
such a duty. 

Necessity supplies much energy, however, and they sailed from this island 
where they had been constantly jiursued by the arrows of the natives, and, 
after touching at several others, anchored off New Britain August 28. Here 



CAPTAIN JAMES COOK, THE EXPLORER OF THE SOUTH SEA. 



(iOl 



he obtained a supply of fruits and vegetables, particularly of paliu-cahbagc, 
which proved a very delicious food. 

Passing through the strait which se^^arates New Britain from New Ireland, 
discovering and naming the Admiralty Islands, they entered the Straits of 
Macassar, between Borneo and Celebes, Nov. 14. The ship sailed so slowly 
that she only accomplished twenty-eight leagues in fifteen days. "Ill, weak- 
ened, dying, tortured by the sight of lands which we could not reach, exposed 
to tempests which we found it imi)ossible to overcome, we were attacked by 
a pirate!" 




Attacked by a Malay Pirate Vessel. 

This enemy was a Malay prah, the crew of which, hoping to find the English 
sailors asleep, had attacked them under cover of night. But far from allow- 
ing themselves to be conquered by this enemy, the crew of the Sivalloio were 
roused to new energy by the demands of the case; and the result of the fight 
was that the prah was foundered. 

Failing to reach Batavia before the western monsoon began, Carteret made 
for Macassar, the principal port of the Dutch on the island of Celebes; but 



602 CVI'TAIN .lAMKS COOK, TIIK F^XPLOKKK OK THE SOUTH SEA. 

here the authorities forbade liiiii to hiiid. Carteret pleaded for his dying 
crew, and described the dilapidated condition of his ship; and finally the 
authorities reconsidered their iidiunian refusal so far as to permit him to buy 
a few provisions and direct him to a small neighboring bay, where hewastold 
he could lind shelter from the monsoon, and set up a hospital for his sick, 
and procure a more plentiful supply of provisions than were obtainable in 
Macassar itself. 

He could do nothing but what they permitted, and to the indicated bay. 
he went, liut even here he found himself surrounded by restrictions. Thw 
Dutch, probably fearing some infectious disease, forbade them going more 
than a certain distance from their hospital; they were under guard, and not 
permitted to communicate with the natives; and whatever provisions they 
wished to buy must be purchased from the Dutch soldiers, who in some cases 
made a profit of one thousand per cent. 

Here they remained until May 22, 1768 — two days after the other vessels 
of the fleet had arrived in Englaiul. They sailed to Batavia, where the vessel 
was repaired; and, September 1.5, departed for Europe. Eighty of the 
original crew of the. Sicafloio hud died during the voyage; their places had 
been filled by English sailors recruited in these Dutch ports; but of these 
seven died before they reached the Capo of Good Hope. Here the condition 
of the crew obliged them to remain for some time; and Jan. 6, 17H9, they 
again set sail for ICngland, where they arrived March 20. 

The voyage of Carteret was especially adventurous, because performed in 
a ship but imperfectly adapted for the purpose — really unseaworthy before he 
started from England. He proved himself a most efficient explorer. 

We turn aside from English expeditions for a moment, to detail the adven- 
tures of French explorers, under the lead of Louis Antoine de Bougainville. 
Having had some success at the bar, Bougainville next devoted himself to the 
sciences, choosing mathematics, in which he achieved some distinction; but 
this career was in turn abandoned when he became an officer in the army. 
Nor did he long remain in this position; we find him next a diplomate. 
Finally, he left all for the naval service. 

While thus engaged, he conceived the idea of colonizing the Falkland Islands 
with the Canadians who, disgusted at the English rule in their own country, 
had sought refuge in France. He finally obtained official i>ermission to un- 
dertake this, and received an appointment as cajitain in the navy. Leaving 
St. Malo September 15, 17(i3, with two vessels, he planted a colony on one of 
the Malouines, as the French called these islands; but controversies arose 
with thep^nglish and the Spanish governments; the first named nation claim- 
ing these islands by the right of discovery, while Spain claimed them as a de- 
pendency of South America; they were finally recognized as the property of 
Spain, and the French colonists returned to France. 



CAPTAIN JAMES COOK, TUE EXl'LOKKK OF THK SOUTH SKA. 



«08 



It was Bougainville's intention to cross tlie Pacific; but he had only six 
month's provision, and this was not enough; he spent sometime, while wait- 
ing for further supplies, at Rio de Janeiro. Thence they sailed, stopping at 
Montevideo, to the Straits of Magellan; and Bougainville again contradicted 
the fables regarding the great size of the Patagonians. Although they were 




Making Their Visitoks Sing and Dance 



tall, he says, none of them reached six feet ; but the breadth of their shoulders, 
the size of their heads, and the thickness of their limbs appeared to him gi- 
gantic. In sharp contrast to these well-developed natives were their neigh- 
bors, the inhabitants of Terra del Fuego ; who, he says, " are small, thin, ugly. 



<i04 CAITAIN JAMES COOK, THE EXl'LOKEK Ol' THE 80UTJ1 SKA. 

and smell abominably. They arc all but naked, having only clothing of sealskin 
too small to cover them." These savages visited the ships, but did not show- 
surprise at anything; a circumstance which the Frenchman attributes to tliuir 
entire ignorance; understanding nothing, they treated the master pieces of 
human industry as they treated the laws and phenomena of nature. The 
sailors amused themselves by making these visitors sing and dance, and, what 
was doubtless much more agreeable to the visitors, eat. Nothing came amiss 
to their voracious appetites, but bread, salt meat, and tallow all seemed 
equally acceptable. 

But the intercourse was suddenly interrupted. A child about twelve years 
old was one of the visitors, and a number of glass beadsandbitsof glass were 
given to him. Ignorant of the nature of the glass, and perhaps having, like 
Topsy, only one standard of excellence — "Is it good to eat?" — he seems to 
have decided that what was so pleasing to look at must be good to eat. He 
was found vomiting and spitting blood, his throat and gums lacerated and 
bleeding; and he died in great agony shortly afterward, in spite of the efforts 
of a native medicine man, who rubbed him violently and performed many 
strange incantations over him. The Fuegians, it seems, thought that this was 
due to having accepted a present from the French; and his death was the 
signal for flight from the vicinity of the vessels. 

After considerable delay they passed through the straits, and, reaching the 
Pacific, cruised among the small islands that dot its surface, landed at Tahi- 
ti about the middle of April, 1768. Here they were received with the great- 
est demonstrations of friendliness by the natives, who brought an abundance 
of fruit, so much desired by the sailors, to barter for European toys. Bou- 
gainville wisely prohibited his men from going ashore until arrangements 
should have been made for a considerable number to do so; but, in spite of 
his command, his cook managed to land alone. He was at once seized by a 
number of the natives, who saw here an excellent opportunity for gratifying 
their spirit of inquiry. It would seem that they were full of curiosity as to 
why these strangers so persistently covered up parts of their bodies with close- 
fitting clothes; and the frightened cook was speedily stripped to the skin by 
his captors. Having found that there was no reason, as far as personal ex- 
amination could show, for so closely covering the body, they permitted him 
to redress himself, ajid conducted him back to the vessel. His disobedience 
had been amply punished by the fright which he had experienced. 

A large shed was built for the accommodation of the sufferers from scur- 
vy, and a guard of thirty men placed about this rude hospital to prevent 
depredations by the natives. For the utmost care had to be maintained, lest 
the thieving natives should carry off articles of great value to the seamen. 

The friendly kindness of the natives, in receiving these strangers and pro- 
viding them with all that they needed — for the stealing can only be regarded 



CAl'TAIX .JA.MKS COOK, THE KXI'I.OKEK <>1' TMK SOITII SKA. (iUf) 

with the utmost indulgence for their ignorance — was poorly rewarded by the 
French. A native was killed by a gunshot, and all inquiries failed to reveal 
the perpetrator of this outrage. Two days later, Bougainville, while busily 
occupied with some repairs made necessary by a storm, learned that three 
natives had been killed or wounded by bayonets; and that their countrymen, 
alarmed, had Hed to the interior. He at once landed, arrested those who 
were accused, put them in irons and confined them on board the vessel. This 
prompt punishment was told to the alarmed Tahitians, and they came back 
to the coast. The French ships weighed anchor soon afterward, and, amid 
the most friendly demonstrations from the natives, one of whotn insisted on 
accompanying them, set sail. Bougainville added to the observations of 
Wallis many notes concerning the climate, productions and inhabitants of 
this island. 

Bougainville's course now lay a little north of west ; the island which bears 
his name having been first seen by a white man early in July. He explored 
several of the Solomon group which had been visited before; but the chief 
value of his voyage to the world at large was the information that he gained 
and published, that navigation among these islands was not nearly so difficult 
or dangerous as the Dutch, anxious to keep other nations away, had pre- 
tended. His narrative states his course with much detail, in order that 
others may follow safely in his track; but such an enumeration of capes, 
headlands and islands would be neither pleasant nor profitable to the reader. 

While Bougainville was in these latitudes certain business matters required 
his presence on board one of tlie ships, and he there found out a singular 
fact, which had already been largely discussed by his crew. On board the 
ship was a distinguished botanist who had a servant named Barre. Indefat- 
igable, intelligent, and already an experienced botanist, Barre had been taking 
an active part in the herbarising excui'sions, carrying boxes, provisions, the 
weapons, and books of plants, with endurance which obtained from the bot- 
anist, the nickname of his beast of burden. For sometime past Barre had 
been supposed to be a woman. His smooth face, the tone of his voice, his 
reserve, and certain other signs appeared to justify the supposition, when on 
arriving at Tahiti suspicions were changed into certainty. The botanistlanded 
to botanize, and according to custom Barre followed him with the boxes, 
when he was surrounded by natives, who, exclaiming that it was a woman, 
were disposed to verify their opinion. A midshipman had the greatest trou- 
ble in rescuing her from the natives, and escorting her back to the ship. 
When Bougainville visited the ship, he received Barre's confession. In tears, 
the assistant botanist confessed her sex, and excused herself for having de- 
ceived her master by presenting herself in man's clothes, at the very moment 
of embarkment. Having no family, and having been ruined by a law-suit, 
this girl had donned man's clothes to insure respect. She was awai'e before 



606 



{•Al'TAIN .lAMKS COOK. TlIK KXri.oI.'Ki; ( il IIIK SOl'I II M;A. 



she eiiil);ulvi'(l, that sliowas going on a voyage around the world, and the jDros- 
pect, far from fiiglitcning lior, only contirmed her in her resolution. 




MaDAMOIsHII B*RR>V AlATNTl K> 

" She will be the first woman who has been around the world," sa_vs Bou- 
gainville, "and I must do her the justice to admit that she has conducted 
herself with the most scrupulous discretion. She is neither ugly nor pretty, 
and at the most is only twenty-si.x or twenty-seven years old. It nmst be ad- 
mitted tliat had the two vessels suffered shipwreck upon a desert i.sland, it 
would have been a singular exi)erience for Barre." 

Rounding the Cape of Good Hope, Bouganville reached St. Malo, Fel). 16, 
1769, having lost but seven men during the course of his long voyage. He 
was the first French circumnavigator. 

Having thus traced briefly the adventures of Cook's immediate predeces- 
sors in the navigation of the South Pacific, we retui'n to his own expedition 



CAPTAIN JAMKS COOK, THE EXPLORER OF THE SOUTH SEA. 607 

thither. The Endeavor left Plymouth August 26, 1768; and, touching at the 
Madeiras, reached Rio de Janeiro Nov. 13. Here they were obliged to stop 
for supplies ; but, although they were not absolutely refused, the action of the 
viceroy prevented the English from obtaining them as speedily as might have 
been the case. The whole time of Cook's stay in this port was spent in petty 
squabbles with this officer, who, wholly incapable of understanding the sci- 
entific need for such an expedition, looked upon it with much distrust and 
jealousy. 

Following the coast of South America from this point, Cook entered the 
Straits of Lemaire, separating Terra del Fuego from the small island at its 
eastern extremity, January 14, 1769; for he had no intention of trying the 
passage of the Straits of Magellan, even though this, the summer of the 
southern hemisphere, was the most favorable season for such a venture; he 
intended to double Cape Horn. The event proved that he had been wise; 
for constantly changing winds and currents would doubtless have kept him 
pi'isoned in the tortuous passages between the main land and the great island 
for a much longer time than the thirty days which were required to double 
Terra del Fuego. By his exact astronomical observations during thistime he 
was enabled to correct many of the errors in existing charts, both of Fi-ench 
and English origin, and thus smooth the way for future navigators. For many 
years, however. Cape Horn remained the terror of sailors; and it was not 
until the introduction of steam vessels changed the entire system of naviga- 
tion, that it lost many of its dangers. 

Threading his way among the islands of the Low Archipelago, and touch- 
ing at several for the sake of fresh water and fruits. Cook arrived at Tahiti 
June 11, landing at the very point where Wallis had landed. Mindful of that 
officer's experience. Cook gave strict orders to his crew regarding their treat- 
ment of the natives. He also decided to construct a sort of fort, within gun- 
range of the ship, where the observers might be safe. A suitable spot was 
found, the extent of ground which he intended to occupy marked out, an of- 
ficer with thirteen men left in charge of the tents, and Cook, with those asso- 
ciates who have been named in a preceding page, went into the interior of 
the island. 

He was speedily recalled, however, by the sound of firing; a native had sur- 
prised one of the sentinels, and wrested' his gun from him; the alarm had 
been given, and the comrades of the sentinel fired upon the Tahitians. This 
was enough to have brought the vengeance of the islanders upon the seamen; 
but Cook gave them such assurances of his friendliness, and punished so pub- 
licly one of his men who had threatened to kill one of the natives, that they 
were pacified; and the amicable i-elations remained undisturbed except by 
the petty thieving that the sailors had to guard against or endure. 

As the time for the observation was drawing near. Cook sent Sir Joseph 



(i(t8 



CAPTAIN JAMES COOK, THK KXPLOREK Of THK SOITII SKA. 



Banks to a neighboring island, and four others to the eastern portion (if Ta- 
hiti, while he himself made preparations for observing the transit from the 
fort. No slight hardship was experienced by the astronomers mIio liad come 
so far in the cause of science; their watch began at twenty minutes after nine 
in the morning, and did not end until ten minutes after three that afternoon; 
during this time they were exposed to the burning heat of the tropical sun, 
the thermometer registering one hundred and twenty degrees Fahrenheit. 




Tahitian Chief Fun by His Wivks. 
While the learned men of the expedition were thus engaged in observing 
and recording the jjlienomena connected with an occurrence which could not 
be again observed for more than a century, the unlearned were protiting by 



CAPTAIN JAMKS C;OOK, TIIK EXl'LORKK OF THE SOI 111 Sl'.A. fi09 

their inattention to steal a hundredweight of nails, which they used in traffic 
with the natives. The worst about this offense was, that nails were a valua- 
l)le article of traffic, as the natives showed an immoderate desire to possess 
them; and this theft was liUely to glut the market. Only seventy of the nails 
were recovered, and eighty lashes failed to make the detected thief betray his 
accomplices. 

Lieutenant Cook not only paid full attention to the astronomical observa- 
tions which he was required to make, but investigated the manners and cus- 
toms of the islanders; going so far as to partake of one of their most deli- 
cate dishes, which was dog-flesh, roasted on hot stones in a hole, for four 
hours. He says it was of a delicious flavor. lu one of his walks he saw a 
native, who passed his days in being fed by his wives, quietly lying upon a thick 
carpet of leafy branches. 

One of the Tahitians, who had been a priest of high rank and — accf)rding 
to the old accounts, where these savage chiefs are represented as attended 
like civilized potentates — first minister to the Queen of Tahiti, requested to 
be allowed to go with the white men when they sailed away. Cook was very 
glad to permit this, as Tupia — such was his name — was sure to be well ac- 
quainted with the surrounding waters, which he had navigated, and could 
give full particulars respecting his countrymen, in whose civilization he could 
be made a valuable agent. 

Cook landed on several of the Society Islands, as he named this group; 
taking formal possession of them in the name of George III. On most of 
these the natives were friendly; on one especially the chief persisted in call- 
ing himself Cookee, and giving his own name to the navigator; but the na- 
tives of Otaha, on the contrary, were so hostile in their demonstrations that 
he could not land. 

Their course, for nearly two months after leaving the Society Islands, lay 
almost directly southeast. On the 5th of October, the color of the sea 
changed, showing that they were approaching land; and the next day they 
saw a long line of coast, stretching northwest by west. It was the long-sought 
Southern Continent, which geographers had determined must exist, to bal- 
ance the globe ! 

As they neared the land, which was really North Island of the New Zealand 
group, they saw the varied nature of the surface; first the green hills, and 
the valleys with their great trees; the houses of the natives, the pirogues 
gathered near the shore, and finally the islanders themselves assembled on 
the beach. 

Many attempts were made to enter into friendly relations with the people, 
but none of them were successful. Cook endeavored to get some of them on 
board his vessel; thinking that if he succeeded in this, he could treat them 
so well as to make them good embassadors between him and their countrymen. 

39 



(ilO 



CAPTAIN .lAMKS COOK, THK EXl'LOKKK OF TIIK SOITII SEA. 



Failing in other methods of getting them there, he tried to intercept two 
pirogues. One escaped by rapid i)addliug; Tupia, who spoke a dialect of 
the same language which the New Zealanders used, tried to tell the others 
that the English came as friends; but, in spite of his assurances, the islanders 
seized their arms and attacked the boat-load of sailors. They were pursued 




< \1 1 < Ol 1 I I III N M 

so closely by the natives that Cook gave the order to tire upon them, and four 
were killed. The other three, terrified at the noise and fatal effect of the 
tire-arms, threw themselves into the sea, where, after a fierce resistance, they 
were captured. 
The three islanders were taken on board and loaded with such presents as 



CAPTAIN .lAJlKS COOK, TIUO KXl'I.OUKIt Of rilK SOUTH SKA. till 

luiglit be supposed most attractive to theni; but this treatment does not seem 
to have made any impression upon them. Having been unable to procure 
anything but wood at this place, although he was in need of food as well. 
Cook named the harbor Poverty Bay, and sailed to the southward. But his 
relations with the natives were everywhere unfriendly, and if they did not 
break into open warfare it was because the English commander held his men 
so in hand that they were patient under very great provocation. 

To do this, the greatest severity was necessary. On one occasion it was 
found that three sailors had entered a plantation and carried off a quantity 
of potatoes. When their guilt was proved Cook ordered that each of them 
should receive a dozen lashes. Two of them submitted unresistingly to the 
punishment; but the third declared that it was no crime for an Englishman 
to steal from a New Zealander. Notwithstanding this argument, the lashes 
were inflicted, and the rebellious culprit contined in the hold until he con- 
sented to receive six additional lashes for resisting the execution of the 
sentence. 

Before reaching the southeastern extremity of the northern island Cook 
changed his course; and, coasting northward along the shore where he had 
just come in the opposite direction, followed the outline of the island until 
he arrived at that point on the western shore which is called Cape Egmont; 
Cook giving the name of Egmont to a neighboring peak covered with snow, 
in honor of the earl of that title. 

Here the relations with the natives were more friendly; but, although he 
tried to ascertain what traces remained among them of Tasman's visit to this 
island, he was unable to find even a tradition of a white man's having come 
there in a vessel like his. 

The New Zealauders were cannibals, eating the bodies of the enemies whom 
they slew in battle, but preserving the heads — minus the brains, which were 
regarded as a delicacy — as trophies; one of these ghastly testimonies to the 
courage of its owner was purchased by Sir Joseph Banks; but he could not 
persuade the man from whom he bought it to part with another. 

Cook describes, with some admiration, the forts which these people were 
accustomed to construct on the summit of a hill: a double ditch and palisade, 
with an enormous supply of darts and stones laid up within, making the 
stronghold one which could only be reduced by a long blockade, starving out 
the garrison. But in strange contrast with this skill in fortifying themselves, 
, he remarks that they had not invented a single weapon of any importance 
excepting their long spears; even bows and slings, by which so many savage 
tribes throw darts and stones, were wholly unknown to them. 

Cook's officers persisted that this island, as he supposed it to be, was a part 
of a continent; and would not be dissuaded until they had practically cir- 
cunmavigated it. He then followed the outline of the coast of South Island, 



i\\2 



( Al'TAIN .lAMKS COOK, THK EXl'LOKEU OK THE SOUTH SEA. 



exploring the iiiU'iit)r, as he and his companions had done in tiie case of tiic 
more northern body. This was the first European vessel which had visited Js'cw 
Zealand since its discovery by Tasmau, more than a hundred years before; 
and Cook was tlie tirstto demonstrate that it was not, as Tasman supposed, 
a i)art of a great continent. 



^''W^^ff^M 




Cannihai.ism hhi n k\ ('aim Ccioh M I Mim. 
[From an Old Kngni) mg-) 



Leaving New Zealand March 31, 1770, and sailing westward, he perceived 
laiul April lit. This was Van Diemcn's Land, as it had been named by the dis- 
coverer, out of compliment to his patron and governor; but to which posterity. 



CAI-TAIN .lAMlOS COOK, I'lIK K.\ I'l.oUKU OF lUK SOI TU SIOA. (JKi 

with better judgment, has given the name of Tasmania, formed from his own. 
He touched at tlie northeastern extremity, crossed the strait wliich separates 
it from Australia, and followed the coast of the island-continent for some dis- 
tance, making several excursions on land. The natives, however, fled at the 
approach of the English, making all attempts at communicatiou useless. 

From the map which Cook prepared of this country, it appears that he did 
not know that Tasmania was an island, cut off from Australia, to which he 
gave the name of New South AVales, by a strait ; this chart shows Australia 
with a long peninsula extending from the southeastern extremity, with no 
serious breaks in the coast from Port Davey to Cape Howe. Much of this 
line, however, is simply dotted, as being conjectural ; Cook does not assert 
that he saw land on the west while following the course which we have de- 
scribed. 

They had sailed one thousand three hundred miles, and reached a point 
some sixteen degrees f juth of the equator, when they met with the first seri- 
ous disaster since leaving home. It came with all the more fearfulness, be- 
cause their long and perilous voyage through waters almost unknown had 
hitherto been attended with such prosperity. 

Seeing some islands near the coast, so low that some of the sailors declared 
they were but rocks above water. Cook decided to stretch off all night, and so 
gave orders to shorten sail and haul off shore. The soundings were peculiar, 
showingnow much deeper, now much shallower water; and when itshallowed, 
within a few minutes, from twenty-one fathoms, by quick changes, to eight 
fathoms. Cook gave orders that every man should be at his station. Instantlj', 
everything was ready to put about and come to anchor, when the next cast of 
the lead showed deep water again. He now concluded that they had passed 
the shoal; the ship went on her way, and, as it was now past ten at night, the 
gentlemen of the expedition went to bed. An hour later, however, the water 
suddenly shoaled from twenty to seventeen fathoms; and before the lead 
could be heaved again, a shudder ran through the vessel, and there came a 
grating noise which told the anxious sailors only too surely that she had struck 
upon a rock. 

For three hours and a half a pleasant breeze had ^vafted them from the 
shore; and this, with other indications, led them to believe that they had 
struck upon a coral reef. This is especially dangerous, as the points of coral 
are so sharp that they readily penetrate any vessel, and every part of the sur- 
face is so rough as to grind away whatever is rubbed against it, be the motion 
ever so gentle. 

Taking in all sail at once, the boats were hoi.sted out, that an examination 
might be made. It was found that the vessel had been lifted over the ledge 
of the rock and lay in a hollow within it; in this hollow the depth of water 
varied from three or four feet to as manv fathoms. 



614 t'AriAix .lA.MKS COOK, TiiK i:xi'i.(>i;i;i: ok iiii: soi rii ska. 

All hands in'iit their efforts to getting iier over lliis ledge again ; but she 
continued to beat with such violence against the rock, that it was all they 
could do to keep their footing on tiic deck. It seemed that tiieir worst fears 
were to he realized, as tiiey saw, l)y the ligiit of tlie moon, the sheathing 
hoards from the bottom of the vessel and at last her false keel floating away 
all around her. 

There was but one hope — they must lighten her so that she would float 
across the entrance to this lagoon; six guns, tlie iron and stone ballast, casks, 
hoop-staves, oil-jars, decayed stores, and everything else that could be spared 
from the equipment of the vessel went overboard; the gravity of the situa- 
tion so impressing the men that — Cook records as worthy of mention — not 
an oath was uttered. 

But the tide was going out, so that their efforts did not make it any easier 
for the vessel to float out. There was, indeed, more hope for her at the next 
high water, providing she should hold together so long; but the rock so 
scraped her sides that tiiis was doubtful. 

The dawn showed them that they were about eight leagues from land, with 
no intervening islands; should the vessel be destroyed, what a prospect was 
this! The boats were not enough to hold all; subordination would be at an 
end; some would be left on board, to perish in the waves; but the fate of 
the others would bo even more dreadful, cast upon a barren shore, without 
any means of defending themselves from the hostile natives of the more fer- 
tile countries surrounding this sandy waste; while the utmost hai)piness thai 
they could hope for would l)e to drag out a miserable existence here, cut off 
from all mankind except these naked savages. 

The wind gradually died away, fortunately for the anxious souls on board 
the Endeavor, and there was a dead calm. As the tide rose their hopes in- 
creased; strengthened by the cjuiet which kept the ship from being ground to 
l)ieces. But what was their disappointment to see the waters recede before 
they had reached a height sufHcientto carry the vessel off! The day tide was 
not nearly so high as the night tide; and though they had lightened her by 
about fifty tons, she lacked a foot and a half of floating. 

Cook at once ordered that two anchors should be carried out, one on the 
starboard quarter, and one right astern; the blocks and tackle which were to 
give them a purchase on the ca])les was got in order, and the falls, or ends of 
them, brought in abaft, straining them tight, that the next effort might oper- 
ate on the ship, and by shortening the length of the cable between that and 
the anchors, draw her off the ledge on which she rested, toward deej) water. 
About fine o'clock in the afternoon the tide began to rise again. 

But now came a new cause for anxiety; for, as the tide rose, the leak in- 
creased enormously. The water in the hold gained upon them so steadily and 
rapidly, that they feared the lifting the ship off the rock would be but a prep- 



CAPTAIN JAMES COOK, THE EXPLOKEK OF THE SOUTH SEA. R15 

aration for sending her to the bottom. They worked with the energy boru of 
desperation; and the capstan and windlass being manned with as many hands 
as could be spared from the pumps, the ship floated about half-past ten. 

They were encouraged to tind that she did not, now that she was in deep 
water, admit any more water than she had done while on the rock; but there 
was no less than three feet nine inches in her hold. The sailors, wearied by 
the long period of anxiety and exertion, would work at the pumps till they 
literally dropped at their posts, and would then lie heljiless on the deck, 
although great streams of water from the pumps, manned by those who had 
stepped to their places, were pouring over them. As the relief in turn be- 
came exhausted, those who had first fallen would rise and take their places. 
Tired out, they were almost disheartened; and when it was reported that the 
water in the hold, in spite of their exertions, had gained eighteen inches upon 
them in a few minutes, it seemed useless to work longer. 

Cook, however, knew that this could not be, unless there was a seam 
started, or something of the kind which he did not think likely. A moment's 
inquiry revealed that the man who had been measuring had taken the depth 
only from the ceiling, as the planking which lines the inside of a ship's bot- 
tom is called; while the man who relieved him had measured to the outside 
planking, eighteen inches away. When this was told the despairing sailors, 
it was as reviving as if, a short time before, they had been told that the 
{Dumps had actually gained. 

In fact, they worked with such renewal of vigor that the pumps began to 
gain upon the leak; and, having gotten up their anchors, they once more got 
under sail and stood for land. The leak was temporarily stopped so far that 
it was readily kept under with one pump instead of three; and the rejoicing 
crew talked hopef ullj' of repairing the vessel and continuing the course which 
had been nuvrked out for her before starting. In consequence of these mis- 
adventures, Cook called the point of land nearest the sunken reef Cape 
Tribulation. 

Preparations were at once made for repairing the ship; and huts were 
built on shore for the accommodation of those who were suffering from 
scurvy and for the protection of the stores from the weather. It was found 
upon examination that the ship had suffered fully as nuich damage as they 
had at first feared , but their lives had been saved by a singular circumstance. 
A large part of the rock which made the greatest rent had been broken off, 
and had stuck in the hole which it had produced; thus forming a sort of plug, 
which kept out a flood large enough to have swamped the shifi. 

Leaving Endeavor River, as he named the stream on the banks of which 
the vessel was hauled up for repairs, Cook found navigation so difficult that 
it was impossible to proceed by night. At last, however, they reached a safer 
sea: a large sea came rolling in from the southeast, a certain indicationthat 



(ilfi fAl'TAIiV JAMKS COOK, rilK i;\ I'l.oKKli oK IIIK SOI TH SKA. 

llicrc wore neither lands nor shoals in that direction. The dilKciiltie.-- which 
they encountered are thus sunmicd up l)y (-ook himself: — 

"Our change of situation was now visible in every countenance, for it was 
most sensihly felt in every breast; we had been little less than three months 
entangled among rocks and shoals, that every moment threatened us with de- 
struction; and frequently passing our nights at anchor within hearing of the 
surge that broke over them ; sometimes driving towards them even while our 
anchors were out, and knowing that if by any accident to which an almost 
continual tempe.st exposed us, they should not hold, wc must in a few mo- 
ments inevitably perish. But now, after having sailed no less than three 
hundred and sixty leagues, without once having a man out of tlie chains heav- 
ing the lead, which perhaps never happened to any other vessel, we found 
ourselves in an open sea, with deep water; and enjoyed a tlow of spirits which 
was equally owing to our late dangers and our present security. Yet the very 
waves, which by their swell convinced us that we had no rocks or shoals to 
fear, convinced us also that we could not safely put the .same confidence in 
our vessel as before she had struck ; for the blows she received from them so 
widened her leaks that she admitted no less than nine inches of water in an 
hour, which, considering the state of our pumps, and the navigation which 
was still before us, would have been a sul)ject of more consideration to 
people whose danger had not been so lately so much more imminent." 

But, in spite of the dangers that threatened. Cook was determined to solve 
a question which the Government was an.xious to have settled. "Were New 
Holland, as Australia was called by the Dutch, and New Guinea, the same 
body of land? In spite of the dangers of such a course he again stood to- 
ward the land, and followed the coast of Australia until he reached the head- 
land to which he gave the name of Cape York, w Inch it still bears. Here he 
landed and took solemn possession of the country in the name of the King 
of England, concluding the ceremony with three salutes from the guns which 
had not been thrown overboard in the time of danger. 

From this point, after touching at several small islands, he .struck across 
Torres Strait, to which he gave the name of his ship, and reached the south- 
ern coast of New Guinea Sept. 11. Here they met with such a hostile recep- 
tion from the natives that they concluded it was useless to risk their lives in 
attenqiting to land; and, having but a small .stock of provisions remaining, 
determined to get to Batavia as speedily as possible. 

Here, however, they met with new dangers; for, as before recorded, there 
are few parts of the world less healthy. The greater part of the crew fell 
sick; many died; and but ten men escaped the fever. Continuingtheir course 
they did not leave sickness behind them; for before Christmas twenty-three 
were dead, including the astronomer (Jreen. 

Reaching Prince of Wales Island about the miildle of January, ("ook pro- 



CAl'TAlX .lAMKS COOK, IIIK |;\ I'l.oKKi: oi" TIIK SOITH SKA. (! 1 7 

cured victuals there, iuul sailed for the- Capo of (ToodII()|)e; aud, after 
touching at St. Helena, anchored in tiic Downs June 12, 1772, after an ab- 
sence of nearly four years. "Thus ended Cook's first voyage," says one of 
his biographers; " a voyage in which he had experienced such dangers, dis- 
covered so many countries, and so often evinced liis superiority of character. 
He was well worthy of the dangerous enteri)rise and of the courageous 
effoi-ts to which he had been called." 

As a reward of the services which he had rendered, Cook received, shortly 
after his return, a commission as Commander in the Royal Navy. It seemed 
to him that the same rank, that of captain, Avhich Dalrymj)le had demanded 
before setting out, might have been given to him when he returned successful ; 
but red tape forbade this, declaring that it would upset all established cus- 
toms, and injure the discipline of the Royal Navy, to advance a man more 
than one step at a time. 

But although the transit of Venus had been observed in such a manner as 
to call forth the thanks of the Royal Society, and many doubtful questions 
concerning the geography of these seas were set at rest by Cook's careful and 
accurate observations, there was one thing which he had failed to do; he had 
not discovered the great southern continent, %vhich certainly exi.sted; and 
which must, for the honor and glory of England, be sought and found by 
English vessels. 

Accordingly it was determined to fit out another expedition for this pur- 
pose. Of course Cook was selected as the commander; and his experience 
was liberally drawn upon in making ready the vessels for the voyage. The 
Endeavor had been used on another errand, after havingbeen more efficiently 
repaired than was possible on the desert coast of Australia, or even in the 
East Indies; but it was resolved to build or purchase two vessels which Cook 
should decide were well fitted for the purpose. Two such vessels were found, 
each about fourteen months old; one of four hundred and sixtj-two tons' 
burden, named the liesolution, and the other of three hundred and thirty-six, 
the Adventure. Of the larger, Cook was named commander; while Tobias 
Furneaux, who had been second lieutenant under Wallis, was promoted to 
the command of the latter. These ships were solidly built, drew little water, 
and were provided with two boats of twenty tons each for use in case of 
shipwreck, and supplied with provisions and other stores for two years and a 
half. A landscape painter, two naturalists, and two astronomers, provided 
with the best instruments which the times afforded, accompanied the expe- 
dition; and nothing that could conduce to its success was omitted. 

Great attention was paid to anti-scorbutics, or articles of food designed to 
prevent or cure scurvy. The expedition was also well provided with fishing 
tackle; while, in order to enable them " to procure refi-eshments in such in- 
habited parts of the world as we might touch at where money M-as of no val- 



()1.S CAI'I'VIN' .lA.MKS COOK, THE K\ri.(il{i:K <>l' TlIK sotlll .sKA. 

uo, the Admiralty caused to be put on Ixcird hotli llie ships several articles of 
iiierohandise, as well to trade with the natives for provisions as to make them 
presents to gain their friendship and esteem. Their lordships also caused a 
number of medals to bo struck, the one side representing his Majesty, and 
the other the two ships. These medals were to be given to the natives of 
newly discovered countries, and left there as testimonies of our being the first 
discoverers." 

In the second quarter of the eighteenth century, the captain of one of the 
vessels belonging to the French East India ('ompany liadl)etonie enthusiastic 
about the possibility of discovering hind around the South Pole. The Com- 
pany, acting by his desires, fitted out two vessels of which he was given the 
command, with instructions to proceed to the far South and there take pos- 
session of such lands as ho should discover. lie sailed first in a southwesterly 
direction and touched at the coast of South America; thence toward the 
southeast. For a time his vessels were enveloped by a fog so thick that com- 
nninication could be kept up only by firing; at one time, indeed, those on 
board one vessel could hear voices and movements on board the other, while 
unable to see anything of it. This weather was accompanied ))y the most in- 
tense cold ; so that on one occasion a sailor who had gone aloft actually froze 
there, and, being brought down, was only restored by tlie rather heroic treat- 
ment of whipping. 

He considered his purpose accomplished, as far as possible duringthat voy- 
age at least, when he sighted land about fifty-four degrees south of the equa- 
tor and about five degrees east of Paris; or, according to English reckoning, 
about eleven degrees east of Greenwich. This land was a high peak, covered 
with snow and surrounded by icebergs which made it impossible to land; so 
Monsieur Jean Baptiste, Charles Bouvet de Lozier, having added this valu- 
able piece of knowledge to that already in the possession of geographers, 
sailed back to France, reaching his destination late in 173!t. 

I^iater explorers have ascertained that there is a group of small islands in 
this latitude and longitude, to one of which, very properly, the name of Bou- 
vet Island has becjn given ; but Bouvet himself supposed that this was a head- 
land of the great Antarctic Continent, and called it Cape Circumcision. Cook 
was ordered, when setting out on his second voyage, to proceed southward 
from the Cape of Good Hope, which was to be his first stopping-place after 
, leaving the Madeiras, andeudeavortofind Cape Circumcision; and, if he found 
' it, to ascertain whether it was a pait of a continent or an island. Should it 
prove the headland of a continent, he was to lose no opportunity of investi- 
gating its possible extent. He was further instructed to make all kinds of 
observations of the inhabitants, should there be any, and to use every fair 
means of forming friendly alliances with them. 

From this j)oint he was to seek discoveries to tin? castor west according to 



CAPTAIN JAMES COOK, THE EXPLORER OF THE SOUTH SEA. 619 

the position in which he might find himsc\f. He was to go :is neai' the South 
Pole as the condition of his ships, the health of his crews, and the provisions 
allowed. 

If he did not find Cape Circumcision, or discover it to be an island, he was 
enjoined to sail southward as long as he hoped to find the continent; then to 
jJroceed eastward, still keeping in high latitudes, until he should have com- 
pleted the circumnavigation of the globe; finally to repair to the Cape of 
Good Hope, and thence to England. 

Such were the instructions under which he sailed from Plymouth, July 
13, 1772. Fully aware of the danger of sickness resulting from uncleanliness 
in hot, damp climates, Cook took every possible precaution against it ; insist- 
ing on the soiled clothes being washed at short intervals, and having the be- 
tween decks thoroughly aerated and dried out very frequently. As a result 
of these precautions there was not a single man sick on board the liesolution 
when she arrived at the Cape of Good Hope Oct. 30; although one man had 
died on board the other vessel which had been less carefully cleansed. 

Weighing anchor Dec. 22, the two ships resumed their course southward, 
in search of Cape Circumcision. Although it was the midsummer of the 
southern hemisphere, the weather became so much colder as they sailed 
southward that Cook distributed the extra warm clothing with which he had 
been provided. The men were also given an increased ration of brandy. 
The cold, thanks to these precautions, does not seem to have affected them 
unfavorably; but all the animals taken on board at the Cape died when the 
temperature changed &o greatly. 

A week after leaving the Cape, they were beset by a terrible storm, which 
lasted until the 6th of December. This drove tliein far out of their course 
toward Cape Circumcision. They had reached the fiftieth parallel before they 
fell in with any icebergs; but having passed beyond the invisible line which 
seems to separate the icy seas from those having warmer waters, they were 
surrounded by them. One of the first that they saw Cook calculated was fifty 
feet high and about a half-mile in circuit. Captain Furneaux at first mistook 
this ice-island for land, and hauled off from it, till called back by signal. 
Sounding showed no bottom at a depth of one hundred and fifty fathoms; 
nor were there any other signs of land near by. 

Through thick fogs they sailed among these masses of floating ice until, on 
the 14th, they thought that they espied land. Even Cook was for a short 
time deceived; but on more narrowly examining the hills of the supposed is- 
land, he decided that it was no more than a mass of ice, larger than any that 
they had yet encountered. His own experience of ice-bound seas had not 
been large, but he had on board two men who had been in the Greenland 
trade; one of whom had been ice-bound for six, the other for nine weeks. 
The belief of these men was that he would find land directly behind these 



(i20 



CAPTAIN .lA.MKS COOK, TUK KXl'LOKKK OK TllK .SOLTII SKA. 



iiiassfs of ice; they supposing that these icebergs friuged the land here as in 
tlie case of Greenland. He accordingly made some effort to skirt the ice-fields, 
or to iienetratetheni, butditl not succeed, of course, in reaching land. Indeed, 
the temperature of the air and water was enough to account for the forma- 
tion of these vast masses of ice, without supposing they came from any land: 
for the thermometer in the air marked from thirty to thirty-four degiees 
Fahrenheit during the warmest part of the day, and was at the freezing point 
on the surface of the water. When it is considered that this was the warm- 
est season of the year there, we can readily understand how icebergs could 
be formed in the open sea in less favorable seasons. 




Having ascertained positively that the icebergs were not the fringe on the 
garments of the land. Cook decided to pi'oceed eastward to find Cape Circum- 
cision, being in about the same latitude, liut a terrible storm again drove 
him oul of his course: and :iUhough he managed to reach the meridi;in on 



CAPTAIN JAMES C:oOK, THE EXPLORER OF THE SOUTH SEA. fi21 

which he expected to fiud the cape, he had then been driven about seventy 
leagues south of it. From this he concluded that the so-called cape was not 
the extremity of a continent, but merely of an inconsiderable island. 

They penetrated almost to the Antarctic Circle, reaching the latitude of 
sixty-seven degrees fifteen minutes south; but here they were stopped by an 
immense field of ice, which appeared to be practically boundless. Then, 
having taken on board a sufficient quantity of the pure, cold crystal to re- 
plenish their water-casks, they sailed to the northward, to make another 
search for the island discovered by the French navigator. 

Keeping to the eastward, the voyage was without incident of importance 
until it was discovered that the Adventure had become separated from her 
consort. The weather was so foggy that for three days Cook was uncertain 
whether they had really become widely separated or not; but at the end of 
that time, he made up his mind that he should see no more of Capt. Fui-- 
neaux until they met at the rendezvous which had been appointed on the 
island of Kew Guinea. 

Convinced that there was no considerable extent of land between the 
southern point of Africa and the Antarctic Circle, Cook now hastened to 
this rendezvous; and March 25, about four months after leaving the Cape of 
Good Hope, cast anchor in Dusky Bay. 

As Cook and his companions proceeded to land, three Indians emerged 
from the wood making signs, but here he had but little intercourse with the 
natives, with the exception of the members of one family, which established 
its quarters near the landing place. In order to impress them with some of 
the refinements of civilized life. Cook gave a concert for their especial bene- 
fit. The fife and cornet players found their skill was vain, for the dusky 
listeners preferred the drum to any other music. 

They were visited on board the ship by a chief who showed a very friendly 
disposition. As a proof of this he plunged his fingers into a bag which he 
wore about his waist, and offered to anoint the captain's hair with the rancid 
grease which it contained. Cook managed to evade this offer of a high hon- 
or; but the painter, Hodges, was less successful; and was forced to submit 
to the process of having it rubbed well into the scalp, to the amusement of 
all who escaped the infliction. 

Having completed the hydrographical survey of this bay, and cultivated a 
patch of ground sufficiently to start the kitchen garden seeds which he had 
sown. Cook departed for Queen Charlotte's Sound, the rendezvous appoint- 
ed for Captain Furneaux. 

The Adventure had been waiting for six weeks, having coasted Van Die- 
men's Land for seventeen days before the beginning of this period; but this 
exploration had not demonstrated whether this was an island or a peninsula. 

At the point where they now landed the natives proved very friendly; and 



(i22 CAPTAIN JAMES COOK, THK EXPLORER OF THE SOUTH SEA. 

oven indulged, ou ship board, in one of their national songs. One of tlieni 
sang, says Cook, while the others accompanied him by gestures. The last 
words they repeated in chorus; and the whites easily distinguished a rude 
sort of meter, although, he adds, he was not sure that there was any rhyme. 

" In the evening," Cook says, "we had the spectacle of a ' /jomat,' that is 
to say, the dances of the night were performed in front of the chief's house. 
AVc saw twelve dances during the time. They were executed by women, and 
in the midst of them we noticed the arrival of a numl)er of men, who formed 
a ring within that of the dancing women. Twenty-four men, who executed 
a third, made a movement with the hands, which was greatly applauded, and 
which we had not previously seen. The orchestra was renewed once. The 
chief appeared upon the scene at the head of fifty dancers, most magnifi- 
cently apparelled. His garment consisted of cloth and a large piece of 
gauze, and round his neck small figures were suspended." 

Some of the natives inquired for Tupia; and on being told that he was 
dead, expressed their grief by a form of lamentation that was evidently arti- 
ficial and formal. Cook did not recognize any that he had seen on his pre- 
vious voyage; and this fact, together with the greatly diminished number of 
inhabitants, and the deserted condition of the fortresses elsewhere described, 
convinced him that there had been a great war, which had destroyed or driv- 
en out most of those who had inhabited the islands at the time of his first 
visit. 

It was Cook's intention to proceed directly cast from New Zealand and 
then to steer toward Tahiti if he found no land; tliis island being appointed 
as the place of rendezvous. He then proposed to return to New Zealand 
and survey all the unknown parts of the Pacific between those islands and 
Cape Horn. The reason for selecting Tahiti as a rendezvous was probably 
that it was almost the only island of the situation of which they were both 
absolutely sure. Other islands, visited by other navigators, might have had 
the latitude and longitude incorrectly stated on the charts; but Tahiti was a 
kind of starting-point for cartographers of that day. 

They found anchorage with some difficulty off this island, after a voyage 
almost wholly without incident ; and were well received by the natives. The 
islanders inquired for their countryman Tupia, but, when they had learned 
of his death, did not mention his name again; they also asked after several 
members of the scientific expedition, showing that a real friendship had 
been formed between these South Sea savages and the eminent English as- 
tronomers and botanists. 

Considerable time was spent in trading with the natives and in observing 
tlieir haljits and customs. The natives were eager for the commodities 
which the strangers brought with them; sometimes giving a dozen cocoanuts 
in exchange for a single glass bead. The great plenty of such fruit had a 



CAPTAIN JAMES COOK, THE EXPLORER OF THE SOUTH SEA. 



623 



great influence upon the health of the sailors, some of whom were suffering 
from the ever-present scurvy when they landed, but recovered before they 
left. 

The readiness with which the islanders learned to swim and dive was 
shown when one of the officers threw to a child about six years old, in one 
of the pirogues, a string of glass beads. They missed their mark, and fell 
into the sea; whereupon the boy instantly dived after them, and in a moment 
brought them up from the bottom. 



ps^^s^^^gt^Tx^rigg^ 




^ii\ i-j r i.M I 



The Queen who had formerly ruled the island seemed to have been de- 
posed; and the natives were now governed by a king named 0-Too. The 
young ruler received them with becoming ceremony, and showed himself 
very willing to be friends. Visits were exchanged between him and Cook: 
the islanders presented the sailor with large pieces of their finest stuff, 



I>-I {'AITAIN JAMKS COOK, TllK KXl'I.OUKK Ol" TIIK SOITII SKA. 

phu'iiiii lliosc over the. outer clothiug of Cook and liis companions in such 
alxuiilance that the}- could scarcely move: while the King, when lie came on 
hoard ship, received such presents as pleased him most. At another visit 
which Cook paid him the savago chief was presented with a broadsword; it 
was thought that this would bo a very acceptable gift; but 0-Too was so 
much afraid of it that Cook had some ditticulty in persuading him to accept 
it. At last he consented to have it buckled around him: l)ut, after wearing 
it a short time, ordered it to be taken out of his sight. 

Leaving Tahiti, they sailed for the neighboring island of IIu. Here they 
met at lirst with very kindly treatment, and were enabled to buy from the 
natives fowls and fi'uits, the former of which had not been obtainable at 
Tahiti. But the authority of Orea, the King, who welcomed Cof)k as an old 
friend, was not sufficient to keep the peace. The sailors who were detailed 
to attend to the trading were threatened by a native who was, by his cos- 
tume, evidently a soldier, and who was armed with a club. Cook landed 
just as the patience of the Englishmen began to give way; and, signing to his 
miMi to stand back, threw himself on the islander, struggled with him, and 
tinally got hold of his club, breaking it before his eyes, and then ordered 
him away. 

The same day Mr. Sparrman, the naturalist who had accompanied the ex- 
pedition, took a walk into the interior of the island on a botanizing expedi- 
tion. He was attacked and overpowered by two of the natives, who wound- 
ed him with his own hanger and stripped him of everything he had except 
his trousers. Having thus secured their booty, they left for parts unknown. 
The outraged naturalist speedily found friends, however; for some other na- 
tives, happening to pass that way, gave him a piece of cloth to cover jiim, 
and escorted him to the lantling-place, where there were a great many of the 
islanders assembled. As soon as they saw him they made off; and Cook 
thought that they had stolen something. When Sparrman told his story, 
however, he tried to reassure the frightened islanders, promising them that 
he would not punish the innocent for the guilty. He went at once to the 
chief, who was much grieved at the way in which his people had treated the 
white man; and who at once set out to find the robl)ers. Much against the 
will of his followers, who feared for his life, the ruler embarked in one of 
the ship's boats, with a number of the sailors, headed by their commander; 
and j)roceeded to a distant part of the island to seek the offenders. The 
search, however, was fruitless, as Cook could not spare enough time to 
make it thorough, but the chief afterward recovered and returned the hang- 
er and a part of the coat, thus proving his innocence by enforcing justice. 

At this islana about four hundred hogs of various sizes were obtained. 
Many of these were presents, others were bought, and Cook states that, 
could they have found room for all that were offered them, any number 



(ArTAiy .TAMKS COOK, TIIK KXl'LOKEll OF TIIK .SOUTH SKA. 1)!^.") 

could have been procured. Fruits and roots of variou.s kiud.s were also sup- 
plied theni, so that they had a pleasing variety of food. 

They sailed away from the Society Islands September 17, .steering for the 
west. Thence they proceeded to those islands called on modern maps by 
Cook's own name, touching at several, and ratifying alliances with the na- 
tives by exchange of presents. But provisions we^e difficult to procure here 
in any quantity and Cook sailed for the island called Amsterdam, one of the 
group which he had named, from the character of the natives, the Friendly 
Islands. From these islands they sailed October 7, anchoring off the coast 
of New Zealand two weeks later. 

Here, as they set sail again, the two vessels were separated by a storm ; and 
Cook did not see the Adventure again until they had reached England. Cook 
now took account of the supplies which he had remaining, and repaired his 
ship, as a preparation for another voyage in the far southern seas. Leaving 
New Zealand November 26 they again entered the icy seas, advancing as far 
as seventy-six degrees south. 

They encountered much the same dangers from the floating ice as in the 
first jJart of the voyage, and again witnessed the beautiful but terrible sight 
of the waves flinging themselves upon the icebergs, there to be broken into 
infinitesimal spray, which sometimes flew even over the summits of the ice- 
mountains and descended in a shower on the other side. 

But the men had now been away from home for a. longtime, and had lost that 
enthusiasm which naturally bore them up during the hardships of the earlier 
part of the voyage. We have no hint of mutinj-, for Cook's men seem to 
have been too thoroughly disciplined or too much attached to their comman- 
der to think of such a thing; but he saw for himself the condition of affairs. 
Many of them were down with the scurvy; others suffered from severe colds, 
approaching pneumonia; the commander himself was prostrated by an attack 
of bilious fever, from which, for eight days, it was thought that he would not 
recover He gave f I'om his sick-bed the order to sail toward the northeast ; 
and March 11, there was the joyful cry of "Land!" 

It was Easter Island, then called Davis' Land. The country was the pic- 
ture of desolation, the huge carvings, the origin of which no one has been 
able to conjecture, lending a weird interest to the stone sentinels that seemed 
to guard the shore. Deeply impressed by the sight of these enormous statues, 
the navigator tried to learn something of their origin; but the natives could 
tell him nothing, and indeed manifested no particular respect for these idols, 
as they had evidently once been. The barrenness of the island and the lack 
of good water prevented a long stay, and the ship sailed toward the Mai-que- 
sas, thence to Tahiti, which the sailors regarded as almost a home, so sure 
did they feel of the reception which they would meet from the people. Here 
some provisions were procured, and then thej- went on to Hu, equally' friendly ; 



62() CAl'TAIN .lAMKS COOK, TIIK KXI'I.OKKIt OK TIIK SOUTH SEA. 

but the inhabitants of wliii-h were just as thievish as their brethren on Tahiti. 

A serond visit to the Friendly Islands proved that the name was less ap- 
propriate than it had seemed when it was given; for the natives came in 
swarms, assailing the strangers with stones and darts. Sparrman was wound- 
ed in the arm, while Cook escaped very narrowly from a severe injury. A 
volley from the guns dispersed these hostile islanders, and the name of Sav- 
age Island commemorates their reception of its European discoverer. 

Landing at another island of this group, ('ook met with a more amicable 
reception, and had scarcely cast anchor before his ship was surrounded by 
pirogues, tilled w'ith fruits, which the natives desired to exchange for nails, 
scraps of cloth, and similar articles of European manufacture. In spite of 
this tratiic, however, the natives stole everything that they could lay their 
hands on. Cook bore these depredations with as much patience as possible, 
until a more imi)ortant theft obliged him to resort to severity. Two pirogues 
were seized, to be held as security for the restoration of the stolen articles, 
which were nmskcts. This action was opposed by one of the natives, who, 
in attempting to release the boats, was tiled upon from the ship and severely 
wounded. The arms were finally recovered when the natives saw that Cook 
was determined to get them. 

Continuing their course westward they reached the islands which Bougain- 
ville had named Les Grandes Cyclades; here they lauded on one to which 
Cook had previously given the name of Whitsunday Island, and endeavored 
to enter into friendly trading with the natives. 

The first day of their stay passed without incident; but on the second there 
was a fear of general disaster. It was necessary, in these islands, to limit 
the number of natives boardingthe ship at one time; when the utmost num- 
ber permitted had climbed up the side, the sailor who was assigned to that 
duty forbade one who was approaching in his pirogue to come on board. Of- 
fended at the prohibition, the islander at once drew off, and aimed an arrow 
at the sailor. Cook, who was never far away when anything of the kind oc- 
curred, now appeared at the side of the vessel, and shouted to the native, 
bidding him, in the Tahitian dialect, put down his arrow. 

AVithout deigning a reply, the islander continued to take aim, as if to show 
his bravado. Cook, who carried his gun in his hand, now raised it, and 
ipiickly taking aim, fired, and wounded the islander. As he fell over in his 
boat, a shower of arrows, more hastily aimed than his own, fell on the sides 
and the deck of the vessel. Fortunately they did little harm. Cook at once 
ordered a gun to be fired over their heads, as a warning of the power pos- 
; sessed by the sailors ; and as the shot splashed in the water bejond them, they 
' saw that distance was no protection, and hastily fled. Yet a few hours later 
they surrounded the vessel as friendly and unconcerned as if nothing had 
occurred to interrupt the intercourse. 



CAPTAIN JAMES COOK, THE EXPLORER OF THE SOUTH SEA. (l27 

Cruising among the New Hebrides, Cook found the natives not disposed to 
receive him with sincere cordiality; and they were especially resolved to pre- 
vent the white men from penetrating into the interior; nor was it possible to 
trade with them. New Caledonia was discovered September 5, 1774, where 
they found the natives hospitable, but possessed of but little to offer in trade. 
They sold, however, a large lish which they had harpooned, and which Cook 
ordered pi-eparcd for his own table. So much time w-as required to get it 
ready, that only the liver was served, and Cook, with two others, ate of it. 
They were taken very ill shortly afterward, and making :use of such remedies 
and antidotes as were at hand, succeeded in obtaining relief. The natives 
who visited the ship the next day coolly informed them that the tish was unfit 
for food ; although there had been no hint of this on the previous day, when 
it was offered for sale. The navigators had already discovered this fact, both 
by their own experience, and by having fed a pig with a piece of it, the animal 
dying shortly afterward. 

The coast of New Caledonia was thoroughly surveyed, and the island to 
some extent explored. But the discovery of the Isle of Pines, just south of 
it, had a far more practical and immediate value to the seamen. With the 
exception of New Zealand, this is the only island in this part of the world 
that produces trees fit for spars; and the Hesolutionvfas badly in need of new 
ones. Cook accordingly sent a force of men in a sloop to cut the trees which 
he needed ; they found trees large enough for masts, had such been i-equired ; 
and had no difficulty in preparing as nianyspai's as desired. 

Passing by Norfolk Island, they anchored again in Queen Charlotte's Sound, 
whence they set sail for Cape Horn Nov. 10. The cape was doubled, the 
Straits of Lemoire crossed, and Staten Island recounoitered. Here Cook and 
Sparrman went on a hunting expedition; the doctor shot a bird, and had 
stooped to pick it up, when a monster sea-lion, growling and showing his 
tusks, made toward the hunters. Cook at once raised his gun and fired, kill- 
ing the sea-lion; and the whole herd, which had watched them suspiciously, 
fled along the coast in terror at the fate of their companion. 

Southern Georgia was reached Jan. 14, 1775, and taken possession of in 
the name of the King. Continuing their course to the southeast, they discov- 
ered and took possession of the islands Saunders, Sandwich, and Thule. But 
these sterile and uninhabited spots have no value, and it was useless to risk 
the records of the voyage by remaining longer in these seas, where every 
league was attended with danger. The discovery of, these isolated islands 
confirmed Cook in the belief that near the pole there is a stretch of land, 
where the greater part of the ice floating over this vast southern ocean is 
formed. This theory has been confirmed by the explorations of navigators 
of the nineteenth century. 

After another fruitless search for Cape Circumcision, Cook sailed for the 



(il'S 



(AriAiN .lA.Mics rdoK, riii: kxi'i.okku of tiik soitii ska. 



Cape of Good Hope, whicli ho reachod March 22, 1775. Here he found 
awaiting hini a report from Capt. Furneaux of the Advenhire. The hist time 
that he liad touched at New Zealand on tliis voyage, Cook had wondered to 
find the natives littU? disposed to intercourse with him and his men, and 
feared that the Adventure liad met witli rough usage at their hands. The\ 
stoutly protested their innocence, but this rej)ort informed him that when the 




DlSOOVKMNi; l;i,MAl\> 111 I A.NMl'.Al. Ki:A>l. 

vessel had landed at that island, ten men who were sent ashore to gather edi- 
ble plants were massacred by the natives. As they failed to return at the 
time when they were expected, a search party was sentoid. This second force 
discovered undoubted evidence that the tirst party had fallen into the hands 



CAI'TAIN .JAMKS COOK, THE EXPLOKKK OI' 1 HE .SULTH .SKA. {V2[) 

of the islanders, and had furnished the material for a cannibalistic feast. Capt. 
Fiirneaux judged, from circumstantial evidence, that there had been a quarrel 
which was instantly fought out, and the islanders, as usual in war, had eaten 
the bodies of their slain enemies. 

Cook, having repaired and i-efurnished his vessel, sailed from the Cape of 
Good Hope, and, touching at the usual stopping-jjlaccs on the way, reached 
England July 29, 1775. It is remarkable that during this long voyage, he 
lost but fourteen men; ten of whom, as we have seen, belonged to the other 
vessel, and perished after the final separation of the two shijjs. 

The explorer was at once raised to the rank of Post-Captain in the Royal 
Navy, and appointed Captain of Greenwich Hospital, that magnificent mon- 
ument which William HI. had erected to the memory of his beautiful ciueen. 
This great hospital was then, as its founder had intended that it should be, a 
homo for superannuated seamen; and nearly two thousand old sailors were 
gathered into its great buildings. As an officer connected with its manage- 
ment. Cook had received appointment to a po.^t where honor, ease, and com- 
petence went hand in hand. His services were further recognized by his elec- 
tion to a fellowship in the Royal Society; and the same organization bestow- 
ed the Copley gold medal upon him when it was decided that he had furnished 
the best experimental paper read at its sessions that year. 

But he had barely completed those twenty years which are said to be the 
prime of life, and, weatherbeaten as he was by nearly forty years of sea-far- 
ing life, he did not feel that he was beginning to go. down hill. His post in 
the Greenwich Hospital seems to have been regarded by him simply as a con- 
venient place to rest awhile after his labors, while preparing for others to 
come. 

Meanwhile, the Government, finding that nothing more was to be gained 
by means of voyages to the South Seas, determined to find that long-sought 
passage along the northern coast of America, by which the Atlantic and Pa 
cific are connected. We have seen how the great English navigators of the 
previous century, Davis, Hudson, and Baffin, had failed to find it, trying to 
enter from the eastern extremity; the Lords of the Admiralty therefore de- 
cided to send an expedition to the western coast of the continent, and by 
entering from the warmer waters of the Pacific, follow the passage to its 
termination in the Atlantic. 

It was uecessai-y that the leader of this expedition should be a man experi- 
enced in the navigation of waters where progress was impeded and rendered 
dangerous by ice; and it speedil}' became appai'ent that a man possessing 
these qualifications, as well as those others M'hich are demanded for any ex- 
tended enterprise, would not be very easily found. In the midst of their pev- 
plexity. Cook volunteered for the service. His offer was instantlj' accepted, 
and preparations for the expedition went forward rapidly. 



h.>n CM'TAIN .1 A.MKS COOK, TlIK K.\ I"l.(il!KU OK TlIK SOITII M:A. 

It was decided that wliile he soiijjlit tlic opening at the western extremit}', 
other vessels .should attempt afiain to find the eastern end of the passage. Two 
ships were fitted out for Cook, the Jirftdfution and the />/.svo/'(-/v/. His instruc- 
tions wereto sail first intothePacitic tlirough the chain of islands which he ha<l 
recently' discovered, which he iiad named the New Hebrides, thence to strike 
across to New Albion, as the English still called the westei'u coast of North 
America, and follow it as far as the sixty-fifth i)araliel. Tiio voyages of Bch- 
ringdo not seem to have been described in any form accessible to Englishmen 
at this time; the Lords of the Admiralty evidently had only very vague and 
general ideas of the nature of the coast of what we now know as Alaska. 

Setting sail June 2h, 177ti, he doubled the cape and proceeded to those 
islands where he had been directed to cruise. We should bo only repeating 
what has been already told should we rehearse his dealings with the natives 
here; and shall pass rapidly over his experiences in this part of the world. 
So much time was consumed in carrying out this part of his instructions that' 
he judged it too late in the year, when this work was fairly completed in the 
spring of 1777, to venture so far north. He accordingly waited until January 
of the next year, before leaving the Southern Pacific. On his way to the 
coast of America he discovered the group known as the Sandwich Islands, 
giving this name in honor of the Earl of Sandwich, who held a prominent 
))osition in connection with the Royal Navy, and who had manifested great 
interest in discoveries in the South Seas. 

He reached the coast of the continent March, 1778, and followed it north- 
ward, according [to instructions, until he reached that indentation on the 
southern coast of Alaska which we know as Cook's Inlet. Finding that there 
was no prospect of discovering the wished-for passage south of the sixtieth 
parallel, he put out to sea, and, rounding the peninsula, threaded his way 
among the islands, in the endeavor to find and pass through Bchring's Strait. 
Here, however, his way was blocked by ice; and, after many efforts to jiass a 
wall which proved impenetrable, he put his ships about, and returned to 
winter in the ecjuatorial ocean. 

The Sandwich Islands, which lay directly on his route, tempted iiim to new 
explorations and discoveries. Cruising about them he discovered and took 
possession of Maui and Hawaii. His first landing here had been the occasion 
for some ceremonies which greatly astonished the English. As soon as he 
liad stepped on shore, the natives, who thronged the beach, prostrated them- 
selves at his feet, and showed their respect by the most extravagant gestures. 
Nor was this all; provisions in plenty were brought to the strangers, and 
the islanders assisted the sailoi's in tilling the casks with water, and carrying 
them on board. 

In language, customs and appearance, the Sandwich islandeis greatly re- 
sembled the natives of Tahiti. They proved, however, to have much more 



CAPTAIN .TAMKS COOK, TIIK KXTLOUEK OF THE SOUTH SEA. 



g;3L 



confideuce in the English than all their intercourse with the strangers had 
over taught the Tahitiaus; but they had just the same propensity for, and 
knack of stealing as their more southern kindred. 



r 



f tW 







Thf Nati\e>> Worship Opt ( ook \s i (,oi> 

Cook never understood the reason why he was received with such fantastic 
ceremonies ; it has been explained, since his day, by the story told the mission- 
ary Ellis by some of the natives whom he converted. According to their tra- 
dition, one Rono, in long-ago times, had killed his wife in a sudden fit of 
jealousy. Finding that his jealousy was causeless, remorse drove him mad; 
and he ran about the island trying to kill all he met. At last, tired out with 
this "running a-muck," as an East Indian would have called it, he embarked 
in his canoe, and, promising to return some day upon a floating island, sailed 
away into the vast solitudes of the ocean. 

When Cook's vessels appeared, thepriest declared that Rono had returned: 
and, having by this time elevated the ancient Rono into a god, the islanders re- 
ceived him as such when he came to them. 

There is no rose without a thorn, and even being considered a god may 



ii;}2 CMTAIN .l.\.Mi:s CODK, IllH K.\ I'l.oUKK OK 'I UK SOI Til SKA. 

have its diuwbiuUs. Cook untl his coiiipauions were solcmnlj- i-scorted to a 
temple, where a banquet was prepared for them. Lieut. King, wlio ac- 
companied liim,and to whom wo are inilebted for a narrative of tliis voyage, 
had tlie good luck to be fed by a very clean-looking native ; but the high-priest, 
who cut and pulled off bits of Hesh from theroastpig to put in Cook's mouth, 
was decidedly dirly; so that the captain could not swallow a mouthful. Such 
conduct in a divinity was not to be tolerated ; and the high-pi-iest, determined 
that his god should show him favor by eating what he offered, chewed up 
some niouthfuls and offered it to him. But to the surprise of the devotee. 
Cook would not eat even then. 

When Cook again landed, he was saluted as liono, and loaded with attentions 
anil presents by the priests. The warriors, however, were less friendly; and 
o])enly encouraged the robberies of the strangers which took place daily. 

Thus things went on tillJanuary 24, 1779, wlien the chief arrived near the 
landing-place, and the iidiabitants were prevented from connnunicating with 
the ships. Visits were exchanged, however, between Cook and this chief, and 
much respect shown the Englishman ; although Tci-reoboo ailmitted that his 
people regarded them as having come to Hawaii simply to fill their stomachs. 
He presented Cook, however, with an enormous amount of food, consisting 
of vegetables and pigs. 

Feb. 4, the two vessels weighed anchor ; but it was found that the IltKuhttion, 
a few days after leaving, had received such injury from a storm that it was 
necessary to put back for repairs. They noticed at once a change in the num- 
ncr of the natives, but no serious break occurred until the afternoon of i\w 
13th of February. Tiien, as several chiefs tried to prevent their followers 
from helping the English to till their water-casks, atumultensued, when the 
natives armed themselves with stones and became threatening. 

Cook ordered the officer in command of the water-drawing detachment to 
lire upon the natives if they persisted in throwing stones. They did so, and a 
pirogue was fired upon. 

"While this was going on there was a still more serious dispute in progress. 
Oneof the larger vessels of the natives had been seized and taken to the Uis- 
covenj by one of the officers of that vessel; the chief to whom it belonged 
hastened to claim his property, and to protest his innocence of an}- thieving 
in which those in the pirogue might have engaged. The argument was held 
on the beach, a number of the sailors, connnanded b}' this officer, having 
landed in a pinnace. The chief expostulated; the officer persisted in assert- 
ing his right to seize the vessel ; and, as the argument grew warm, it came to 
blows, and the chief was knocked down by a blow from an oar. His follow- 
ers at once picked up stones, and forced the sailors to run. Some of their 
number, however, had alreadj' seized the pinnace; so that the sailors were at 
the mercy of an angry host. The chief, liowever, who hail i-ecovered from 



CAPTAIN JAMKS COOK, THE EXTLOKKH OF THE .SOLTII .SEA. 



l)o3 



the blow, forgot his anger, and bade his followers restore the boat to its own- 
ers, together with several articles which had been stolen previously. 

Cook was determined that the natives should not look upon the English as 
fit subjects for oppression of all kinds, and to show them that robbery of im- 
|)ortant articles could not go unpunished. He was rendered not a little anx- 
ious by this occurrence, as he was afraid that the islanders would think they 
had gained an advantage over the sailors. 




A TooTHSoifE Offkkixg. 
It was probably from a desire to teach them some wholesome lesson that 
he determined, the next day, when it was discovered that the boat of the 
Jjiscouiri/ luid been stolen, to seize the chief or some important personage, 



(i;)l CVrTAlN' .lAMKS COOK, THE EXPLORKR OK THE SOUTH SEA. 

:ukI !'ol(l liiin as a liostagc for the return of the boat. He landed with a de- 
laiiunont of iiiarines, and sought out Torreol)oo's residence. He was received 
with tlio usual marks of respect, and succeeded in persuading the chief and 
his two sons to pass the day on l)oaid the sliip. 

Tlie two boys had embarked on the pinnace, and their father was about to 
do so, when one of his wives, moved perhaps l)y some vague foreboding of 
evil, begged him not to do so. Some of his principal men, impressed by her 
earnestness, joined their entreaties to hers; butthe ciiief ap|)eared determined. 
' The natives began to crowd around him and Cook ; and the latter, seeing tiiat 
his plan had failed, gave up the idea of executing it thus, and walked quietly 
along the shore toward the place where his boat was moored. 

The arms of the marines had perhaps e.xcited the fears of the natives, for 
a rumor spread among them that danger was at hand. The women and chil- 
dren lied, while one of the wariors, flourishing his weapon, confronted Cook 
with some ugly threats. Cook tried to evade him ; but the islander persisted : 
and at last the captain raised his i)istol and tired. The islander, protected by 
a thick mat,ilid not feel the ball or know that he had been hit; be continue<l 
his audacious defiance, and others advanced to his assistance. Cook raised 
his gun and fired at the group; one fell dead. 

The whole mass of the natives now rushed upon the one man. The men in 
the boats fired upon the crowd, anxious to assist their commander; w'hile the 
small troop who accompanied him closed up to protect him. Cook signed to 
the boats to cease firing, in orderthat his little troop mightembark in safety; 
and, in obedience to his signs, the boats approached the scene of the con- 
flict. 

But even as they bent to their oars for this ])urpose. Cook was struck by- 
one of his assailants and fell to the earth. Instantly his comrades seemed 
to be forgotten by his enemies, who dragged his body along the shore, utter- 
ing fiendish cries of joy, as, with his own poniard, they stabbed him again 
and again, each giving a blow, until all had sated their thirst for liis blood. 

All the offers which the English made for the body of their murdered com- 
mander were disregarded by the islanders. They were about to have recourse 
ft) arms for its recovery, when two priests, with whom Lieut. King had made 
friends on their first landing, brought a piece of flesh, about nine or ten 
))ounds in weight, which they said was all that remained of the body of Ko- 
no; lie had I)een burned, according to their custom. 

The Phiglish, aroused by this, at once attacked the natives; and five chiefs 
and a considerable number of lesser warriors were killed. Several conflicts 
followed; but on the 19th of Feliruary an interview was arranged, at which 
the natives agreed to give up the remains of the famous Englishman; his 
hands, his head, and some other parts of his body, were accordingly deliv- 
ered, and interred by his followers with due marks of respect. 



CVrTAIN .lAMKS COOK, TllK KXri.OUKK OF TIIK SOI 111 SKA. 



mi) 



We now follow briotly the course of the ships which hail })ceii uuder his 
coinmaud. ttettiug sail again to the north, they passed through Behring's 
Straits, and reached a point nearly seventy degrees north of the equator. 
Here their way was barred by icebergs, and they returned southward; put- 
ting in at the coast of Kamchatka, where they were well received by the 
Russians, touching at Canton, and doubling the Cape of Good Hope; they 
reached England October 1, 1780. 




Xativh Monument on Site of Death of Capt. Cook. 

The death of Captain Cook was the signal for very general mourning 
throughout England; for he was regarded as one of the most eminent sailors 
of that great maritime power. The Roj'al Society struck a medal in his hon- 
or; the King granted a pension of two hundred pounds to his widow, and 
twenty-tive pounds to each of his three sons; the charts and drawings relat- 
ing to his last voyage were engraved at the expense of the Government, and 
the proceeds of their sale divided among the families of Captain Cook, Cap- 



ti;)!) CAI'IAIN .lA.MKS COOK, 'IllK KM'I.OIJKK OK JlIK SOllll SKA. 

tain Gierke, and Lieutenant King, officers connected witli this expedition 
wiio luul perished during the voyage. 

The centennial anniversary of Cook's death was coninieniorated by the 
French Geographical Society in ii meeting held in February, 1^711; when a 
number of relics of the great navigator, and of articles brought from the 
islands of the Pacific, were displayed. 

In the introduction to the account of his second voyage. Cook apologizes 
for the plain style of his narrative in these words, which form no bad sum- 
mary of the life he had led: — 

" It is the production of a man who has not had the advantage of much 
school education, but who has been constantly at sea since his youth; anil 
though, with the assistance of a few good friends, he has passed through all 
the stations belonging to a seaman, from an apprentice boy in the coal trade 
to a Post-Captain in the Itoyal Navy, he has had no opportunity of cultivat- 
ing letters."' 

Itnuiybe added that the " few good friends'" to whom he so gratefully 
alludes derive their sole title to be remcml)ered by posterity to the fact that 
they aided the apprentice boy in the coal trade to attain a position in which 
he might become one of the most eminent of the English discoverers. 



Deaddlded using the BooKKeepor proceM- 
Noulrallzing Agent Magnesium OxiOe 
Treatment Date 



